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| The new SMXCITE will host some SEA Plus Youth Games events. |
MANILA--The soon-to-be-finished SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibition in Pasay is being eyed as one of the venues for the inaugural Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino made the announcement on Monday when he and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio launched the brand-new sports meet at the PSC Conference Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
"The majority of the sports will be in SMX in Pasay. By that time, ready na yung new SMX. Mas malaki," Tolentino said.
The construction of SMXCITE, located just across both SM Mall of Asia and the adjacent Mall of Asia Arena at the corner of EDSA and JW Diokno Boulevard, is projected to be completed by early 2027, more than enough time for POC and PSC to inspect the new convention center for the SEA Plus YG hosting.
Rizal Memorial will also host some sports, while the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas will host the athletic and aquatic tournaments.
According to Tolentino, the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo's metropolitan area will host the triathlon competition as Manila Bay remains unsafe to hold such an event.
The skateboarding tournament will be held at the Tagaytay Skate Park.
Aside from athletics, aquatics, triathlon, and skateboarding, the first SEA Plus YG from Dec. 2-14, 2027 will also have judo, boxing, golf, taekwondo, wrestling, fencing, basketball, tennis, gymnastics, jiujitsu, billiards, dancesports, mixed martial arts, and arnis.
The 11 Southeast Asian nations will compete, while Bahrain, Bhutan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, and Turkmenistan were invited too to spice up the competition.
The SEA Plus YG will be an under-16 event, that is, those born on or after 2011 will be allowed to compete.
Tolentino also revealed during the introductory press launch that Gregorio has been tasked to lead the local organizing committee for the first SEA Plus YG hosting.
