Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) – Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, asked ministers in the ASEAN region to establish international-scale sporting events beyond the SEA Games to strengthen regional collaboration.After opening the 2026 Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports held in Sanur, Bali, on Monday, Thohir conveyed the great potential in Southeast Asia to develop joint sports championships, given that the region is home to approximately 650 million people and is experiencing rapid economic growth.He believes that the sports tourism and sports industry sectors can be important pillars in the region's future economic development.”We have a region with 650 million people. It is one of the largest in the world, with a promising economic growth. We also see that sports tourism and the sports industry are indeed part of future economic development,” the minister remarked.He then cited the success of marathon championships in various global cities, such as London, Boston, New York, and Tokyo, which have attracted global participation while boosting local economies.Therefore, he encouraged Southeast Asian countries to create similar events, such as marathons or cross-country cycling races, which can become regional identities.”Why doesn't Southeast Asia have its own marathon? Singapore, Timor Leste, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and others could be involved to create synergy in sports programs,” he suggested.Besides introducing a new event, Thohir also highlighted the importance of improving the SEA Games to further strengthen its sustainability as part of the athlete development system for higher levels such as the Asian Games and the Olympics.He said the SEA Games should maintain a consistent set of sports so high-achieving athletes, including regional Olympic medalists, can continue to compete, noting that challenges such as the exclusion of certain sports have at times prevented them from participating.He also emphasized the need for an understanding between countries and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to formulate a more ideal format for organizing future SEA Games.In addition, Thohir viewed that improvement in the SEA Games is not for the benefit of any one host country, but rather to strengthen the Southeast Asian sports ecosystem as a whole.At the forum, several countries also expressed their openness to hosting the SEA Games in the future, including Laos, which expressed its readiness for 2031.The 2026 Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports is a high-level meeting between ministers responsible for youth and sports in the Southeast Asian region.Initiated by Indonesia, the forum aims to strengthen strategic partnerships and encourage youth collaboration and sports diplomacy in the region.The meeting's theme is “Strengthening SEA Youth Collaboration and Sports Diplomacy for a Resilient Future,” reflecting a shared commitment to building a resilient future for the region through sports.