Timor-Leste participates in the Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports in Bali
The Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, participated in the 2026 Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports, held in Bali, Indonesia, from May 3rd to 5th, which was dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation in youth and sports.
The meeting, organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports, brought together ministers and government representatives from Southeast Asian countries under the theme “Strengthening Youth Collaboration in Southeast Asia and Sports Diplomacy for a Resilient Future.”
During the meeting, participants discussed strengthening regional cooperation across youth development, sports diplomacy, talent development, the professionalisation of sports ecosystems, and high-performance sports systems.
During the plenary session, Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with countries in the region to build the capacity of young people and the national sports sector, with a view to enhancing participation and competitiveness at the regional and international levels.
The ministerial meeting concluded with the adoption of the Bali Declaration, a document signed by the participating ministers that sets out shared commitments to strengthen regional cooperation in youth and sports, promote peace and regional solidarity through sport, and support sustainable development and social inclusion.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento met his Indonesian counterpart, Erick Thohir, to discuss opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the sports sector.
During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the development of pencak silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art with a strong presence in Timor-Leste, as well as opportunities for collaboration in the sports industry and for providing technical support to develop Timorese athletes.
