The hosting of the 2026 Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports (SEAMMYS) in Bali is one of the most structured steps Indonesia has ever taken in building regional cooperation through the youth and sports sectors.
The ministerial-level meeting, held on May 3-5, demonstrated a new direction in regional diplomacy, one that began to position sports and youth development as part of regional development strategies, rather than merely discussing competition.
Indonesia, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, led by Erick Thohir, has taken on the role of initiator of the joint agenda and host. In the Southeast Asian context, this position is crucial, as regional sports cooperation has traditionally focused on organizing routine competitions like the SEA Games without broader discussions on sports governance, the sports industry, athlete development, and youth capacity building.
SEAMMYS 2026 marks a shift in this approach. The theme, "Strengthening Southeast Asian Youth Collaboration and Sports Diplomacy to Build a Resilient Regional Future," represents a direction in which sports are positioned within the framework of diplomacy, social and economic development, and strengthening regional resilience.
The meeting began with a Senior Official Meeting led by the Indonesian delegation, discussing youth resilience, sports talent development, and strengthening regional partnerships. The discussion then progressed to the ministerial level and became a broader forum on the future direction of Southeast Asian sports.
In recent years, Southeast Asian countries have faced relatively similar challenges in the youth sector. The demographic dividend, the development of digital technology, changing work patterns, mental health issues, and inequality of economic opportunity have become cross-border issues.
At the same time, sports are undergoing a shift in function. Previously positioned as a competitive arena, sports are now evolving into a part of industry, tourism, diplomacy, and even creative economic development.
In SEAMMYS, Indonesia is trying to build a common perspective that strengthening the youth and sports sectors needs to be done collectively, rather than having to work individually in each country.
