The Southeast Asian Games, also known as SEA Games, is a multi-sport event that is held every two years amongst athletes from Southeast Asian countries. The event is organized by the Southeast Asian Games Federation and is considered to be the most prestigious sports event in the region. The upcoming 2023 Southeast Asian Games will be the 32nd edition of the event and will be hosted by the Philippines.

Sports to be Included in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games

The 2023 Southeast Asian Games will feature 56 sports, which will be the most number of sports to be included in the event's history. The sports have been divided into three categories: Olympic Sports, Asian Games Sports, and Southeast Asian Games Sports. The Olympic Sports category will feature 10 sports, which are athletics, basketball, boxing, football, gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, and weightlifting. The Asian Games Sports category will feature 18 sports, which are archery, badminton, baseball, bowling, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, judo, karate, rowing, rugby, sailing, sepak takraw, shooting, tennis, and wrestling. Lastly, the Southeast Asian Games Sports category will feature 28 sports, which are arnis, billiards, bodybuilding, chess, dancesport, duathlon, esports, fin swimming, floorball, futsal, golf, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, kurash, muay, pencak silat, petanque, sambo, skateboarding, softball, squash, surfing, triathlon, underwater hockey, underwater rugby, vovinam, wakeboarding, and wushu.

New Sports to be Included in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games

There will be 10 new sports that will be included in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, which are esports, floorball, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, kurash, sambo, skateboarding, surfing, underwater hockey, and underwater rugby. These sports have been added to attract more young audiences and promote inclusivity.

Esports in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games

Esports, which is competitive video gaming, has been included in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games as a demonstration sport. Six esports titles have been chosen by the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, which are Dota 2, Starcraft II, Tekken 7, Arena of Valor, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Hearthstone. The inclusion of esports in the SEA Games has sparked controversy among traditional sports enthusiasts, but it is seen as a move towards modernization and innovation.

Preparation for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games

The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee has started its preparation for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games. The venues for the sports events have been identified, which include the Philippine Arena, Mall of Asia Arena, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The organizers have also started the recruitment process for volunteers and staff. The budget for the event has been set at PHP 7.5 billion (USD 150 million).

Impact of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games

The 2023 Southeast Asian Games is expected to have a significant impact on the Philippines in terms of tourism, economy, and sports development. It is estimated that the event will generate PHP 50 billion (USD 1 billion) in economic activity and create more than 100,000 jobs. The SEA Games will also put the Philippines in the spotlight, attracting more tourists and investors to the country. Lastly, the event will promote sports development in the country, as the Philippine government has allocated funds for the construction of sports facilities and the training of athletes.

Conclusion

The 2023 Southeast Asian Games is set to be the biggest and most diverse edition of the event. With the inclusion of new sports and the modernization of the event, the SEA Games is expected to attract a wider audience and promote sports development in the region. The Philippines, as the host country, is gearing up for the event and is expected to showcase its best sportsmanship and hospitality to the participating countries.

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