The idea was proposed by Raja Sapta Oktohari, President of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC).

If realized, the SEA Games Plus would be held for the first time in the Philippines in 2028, one year after the 34th SEA Games in Malaysia.

“We are in contact with several countries to begin expanding the SEA Games,” Oktohari said at a meeting at the NOC headquarters on Wednesday. “In addition to the 11 Southeast Asian nations, Bhutan and several Oceania countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji could take part.”

Australia and New Zealand are among the world’s sporting powerhouses. At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Australia finished fourth in the overall medal table with 18 golds, 19 silvers and 16 bronzes, trailing only the United States, China and Japan. New Zealand placed 11th with 10 golds, seven silvers, and three bronzes.

The NOC president hopes the move will serve as a stepping stone for athletes to progress to higher-level competitions.

The SEA Games Plus would set a new benchmark by placing greater emphasis on Olympic sports. He argued that the current SEA Games format has been subject to manipulation, with host nations prioritizing sports in which they hold an advantage.

“All hosts, whether it be Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, or Indonesia, want to top the medal table,” Oktohari said. “In the period ahead, Indonesia will proactively prioritize Olympic sports, as multi-sport events require substantial financial resources.”

At the 33rd SEA Games, Indonesia finished second overall with 91 gold, 112 silver, and 130 bronze medals. Hosts Thailand topped the table with 233 golds, 154 silvers, and 108 bronzes, while Vietnam placed third with 87 golds, 81 silvers, and 110 bronzes.

Ahead of the event, Thailand had been expected to deliver the most professional SEA Games and the edition closest in spirit to the Olympics.

However, political instability and natural disasters led the host nation to make a number of organizational missteps, and it was even accused of favoritism in several events.