Indonesia proposes expanding SEA Games to include countries like Australia & New Zealand

The Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC) has put forward an initiative to invite additional countries to take part in an expanded SEA Games format, according to CNN Indonesia.

SEA Games Plus

"We are in contact with several countries to begin expanding the SEA Games," NOC President Raja Sapta Oktohari said at a meeting at the NOC headquarters on Dec. 25, reported VNExpress. "In addition to the 11 Southeast Asian nations, Bhutan and several Oceania countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji could take part."

If the proposal goes through, the event, dubbed SEA Games Plus, would make its debut in the Philippines in 2028, one year after the 34th SEA Games in Malaysia, separate from the biennial SEA Games.

According to FASTBREAK, Oktohari said that the expanded format aims to raise the level of competition in the region and better prepare athletes for higher-tier international events as they would gain more meaningful exposure ahead of global competitions, including the Olympic Games.

Top the table

He also argued that the current SEA Games format leads to host nations prioritising sports where they hold an advantage. "All hosts, whether it be Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, or Indonesia, want to top the medal table," stated Oktohari.

He noted that previous editions hosted by various member nations have often featured non-Olympic or host-preferred events that influenced medal standings.

In the latest SEA Games hosted by Thailand this year, the country had been accused of favouritism in some events, stemming from referee issues, according to VNExpress. One notable incident was a scuffle that broke out over a referee's decision after a silat match between Malaysia and Thailand.

Top image via SNOC/Eugene Goh Wei Hao