The ASEAN Leaders at the 18th ASEAN Summit held on 7-8 May 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia, adopted the recommendation to establish an ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports (AMMS).
Vietnam attends the 7th ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting in Thailand
At the 19th ASEAN Summit held on 17 November 2011 in Bali, Indonesia, the ASEAN Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support the AMMS and initiatives to enhance cooperation in the field of sports and sports-related activities to promote healthier lifestyles for the citizens of ASEAN Member States.
Along with the establishment of AMMS was the establishment of the Senior Sports Officials Meeting (SOMS) to support AMMS. The first ASEAN Senior Sports Officials Meeting (SOMS-1) was held on 30 November 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia, followed by the first ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS-1) convened on 14 December 2011 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
First Meeting in Indonesia (2011)
The ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS) and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS) were held for the first time in Indonesia in 2011. This event marked an important milestone, officially recognizing sports as an independent and strategic area of cooperation within the ASEAN framework. At this meeting, member countries agreed on the following periodic operating mechanisms: ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS): Held every two years; ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS): Held annually.
These meetings are not only a place to discuss sports but also become a strategic forum for member countries to work together towards the common goal of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). Instead of focusing solely on achievements, discussions have expanded to a broader range of social issues, from improving public health through mass sports, turning sports into a potential new economic sector, to promoting gender equality, preserving traditional sports heritage and studying important initiatives such as establishing funds and high-performance sports centers...
The goals that AMMS and SOMS aim for have been specified in the ASEAN Plan of Action on Sports for the period 2021-2025, with 5 priority areas, from promoting peace, healthy lifestyles, to professional development and promoting awareness of ASEAN.
15th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS-15) in Vietnam
Extra-bloc cooperation
In addition to intra-bloc conferences, AMMS and SOMS also expand cooperation with external partners to leverage experience and resources.
ASEAN + Japan: This is one of the most dynamic and effective cooperative relationships. SOMS + Japan conferences focus on many areas such as physical education, sports for the disabled, gender equality and community football development. Japan has sponsored many specific programs, such as the "#WeScore ASEAN" campaign to promote gender equality, including the appointment of 10 outstanding female athletes and sports officials as ASEAN Sports Ambassadors.
ASEAN + China: Cooperation with China is also being strengthened, with AMMS + China conferences taking place in 2023 to consolidate the partnership and promote bilateral and multilateral sports cooperation.
The 4th ASEAN-Japan Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS+Japan) and the 1st ASEAN-China Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS+China) under the framework of the 7th ASEAN Sports Ministers Meeting (AMMS-7) opened a new chapter in extra-bloc sports cooperation.
The meeting acknowledged the positive results of Japan-funded cooperation programs, especially projects on gender equality in sports and physical education for persons with disabilities. To further strengthen this relationship, the parties adopted the Chiang Mai Declaration, laying the foundation for the ASEAN-Japan Sports Cooperation Framework until 2030. This Declaration not only promotes existing initiatives but also opens up new opportunities for cooperation, especially in enhancing the role of women in sports.
The meeting also marked the first time that ASEAN countries and China held a Ministerial-level Sports Ministers Meeting, marking the birth of a new cooperation mechanism. This mechanism is established to provide strategic guidance and promote policy dialogues on sports, in line with the Joint Statement on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.
Ha Phuong