The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has successfully secured the hosting rights for two significant international multi-sport events, marking a major leap for the country's sports tourism campaign. POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino confirmed that the Philippines will host the Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games in late 2027 and the Asian Beach Games in early 2028.
Dual Hosting Success for Philippine Sports
Following extensive email correspondence and phone calls with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the schedules for these prestigious events have been finalized. The Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games (SEA Plus YG) will now be held in the Philippines in late 2027, instead of the initially considered early 2028. Shortly after, the country will welcome the Asian Beach Games (ABG) in early 2028. Tolentino has withheld the specific venue announcement for the ABG at this time.
"The Asian Beach Games will have its third edition this April in Sanya [China], so it will be two years after we host the games in 2028," Tolentino explained, highlighting the sequence of events.
Aligning with National Sports Tourism Goals
This dual hosting initiative is a direct result of the intensified sports tourism campaign led by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and its chairman, Patrick "Patò" Gregorio. Tolentino stated that the POC and PSC are in full alignment on this front, working under the framework established by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC), which Gregorio heads.
"These coming international events fit well with the goal of the NST-IAC, and we at the POC are remaining proactive on these efforts," Tolentino emphasized. The formal process involves submitting letters of intent to the OCA before its General Assembly later this month in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tolentino described this step as a "mere formality," with official approval expected to be followed swiftly by a formal proposal to the PSC.
Building Momentum for Filipino Athletes
The announcement adds to a packed calendar for Philippine sports. Tolentino, who also presides over PhilCycling, noted high expectations for Filipino competitors at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and the Sanya Asian Beach Games in April. Other major events on the horizon include the Nagoya Asian Games in September and the Jeddah Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
Furthermore, the brand-new International Cycling Union-standard Tagaytay CT Velodrome is set to host the Asian Cycling Confederation Track Championships this March, showcasing the country's improving sports infrastructure.
The SEA Plus Youth Games, founded under Tolentino's leadership, are designed for athletes aged 17 and under. The competition format includes two mandatory sports, up to 12 Olympic sports, a maximum of five Asian non-Olympic sports, and one traditional sport featuring up to six medal events. The founding member nations are Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Timor Leste. The "Plus" component involves inviting at least one National Olympic Committee from other Asian sub-regions to each edition, aiming to provide enhanced competition for developing grassroots athletes across the continent.
