ASEAN Countries Adopt Bali Declaration On Youth And Sports Cooperation
By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, May 6 (Bernama) -- ASEAN countries have adopted the Bali Declaration at the Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports 2026 (SEAMMYS 2026), outlining six areas of commitment aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in youth and sports development.
Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said the declaration was adopted during the ministerial-level meeting held in Bali from May 3 to 4, and affirmed the strategic role of sports in promoting regional peace and unity, sustainable development, healthy societies and enhancing ASEAN’s international visibility.
“Indonesia organised this meeting attended by Southeast Asian youth and sports ministers with the aim of strengthening cooperation and mutual learning through collaboration, exchange of experiences and policy dialogue to enhance youth development and sports governance in line with each country’s national priorities,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Erick said the declaration reflected a shared commitment among ASEAN countries to strengthen cooperation in sports development as a platform to promote solidarity, mutual understanding, and constructive engagement among regional communities.
He said participating ASEAN countries had agreed to strengthen high-performance sports systems through improved athlete development, coaching, sports science, and talent identification, while enhancing the relevance of regional multi-sport events, including the SEA Games, in preparing athletes for higher-level international competitions.
Erick said they also agreed to explore collaborative approaches and information sharing related to hosting of major international sporting events to strengthen regional capacity and cooperation.
He said the Bali Declaration further reaffirmed the value of sports participation in promoting talent development, public health, tolerance, respect, social inclusion, peace, and regional integration across ASEAN.
The declaration also stressed youth empowerment through stronger stakeholder partnerships, while recognising young people, including vulnerable groups, as key drivers of future resilience and innovation in the region, he added.
-- BERNAMA
