Pumirma ang Pilipinas sa Bali Declaration on Youth and Sports na unang hakbang ng Southeast Asia sports ministers na paangatin ang kalidad ng Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
Sa pagtatapos ng tatlong araw na ministerial meeting sa Indonesia nitong Martes, napagkasunduan na itatag ang Southeast Asia Marathon Series (SEAMS) at and Southeast Asia Pro Cycling Tour (SEA PCT) upang bigyang daan ang pagpasok ng mga kabataan at beteranong atleta tungo sa world-class level.
Ani Philippine Sports Commission Chairperson Patrick Gregorio na dumalo sa mga pagpupulong, panahon na para patatagin ng Southeast Asia ang sports ecosystem at labanan ang ibang rehiyon.
“The Philippines affirms the Bali Declaration and is ready to work with our Southeast Asian partners to elevate the region’s global positioning — leveraging sports tourism as a driver of economic growth, cultural exchange, and sports diplomacy for goodwill and peace,” ani Gregorio.
Ayon sa global data, ang sports industry ay nakalikom ng USD521 bilyon sa sales noong 2024, samantalang kumita ang sports tourism ng USD 625 bilyon o katumbas ng 10 percent ng global tourism market.
Ang palakasan ay dapat tratuhin na pamumuhunan at hindi lamang gastos, ani Gregorio.
Sumang-ayon si Indonesia Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Erick Thohir, na miyembro rin ng International Olympic Committee.
Ani Thohir, kailangan ang mas mataas na kalidad ng SEA Games upang makakuha ng mas maraming puhunan, sponsor, trabaho at turista na mag-aangat sa ekonomiya ng bawat miyembro ng Southeast Asia.
“Further, we affirm that investing in our youth — in their creativity, agency and potential — remains our most strategic priority. Through sports, we empower young people with discipline, opportunity, and a sense of purpose, ensuring that as Southeast Asia rises on the world stage, our next generation rises with it,” added Gregorio.
Ang SEAMS ay naglalayon na pantayan ang mga sikat na marathon sa Boston, New York at London.
Samantala, target ng SEA PCT na ma-isama sa mga torneo ang mga lumalahok sa Tour de France.
“If the scale and quality of our regional competitions remain limited, we limit the development of our athletes and the growth of our industry,” ani Gregorio.
Pumira sa Bali Declaration ang lahat ng sports minister ng 11 Southeast Asian members — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand Vietnam at bagong miyembro na Timor-Leste.
“Let us build new dreams together as one region, and host the world as one community,’’ ani Gregorio.
“When the day comes that Southeast Asia welcomes the Olympic Games — as one people — it will be one of the greatest stories ever told. Let that story be written by, and belong to, all of us.”