Manama, Bahrain, December 26, 2024: The Olympic Council of Asia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bahrain Olympic Committee for hosting the 3rd Asian Youth Games in 2025.
The OCA was represented at the signing ceremony by its Vice President for West Asia, Dr. Thani Al Kuwari of Qatar, and the BOC was represented by its Secretary General, Mr. Faris Al Kooheji.
The 3rd Asian Youth Games will be held in Bahrain in October/November 2025.
The signing of the agreement between the OCA and BOC was witnessed by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), President of the General Sports Authority (GSA) and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.
The ceremony was attended by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of BOC, and Dr. Husain Al Musallam, Director General of the OCA.
HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad expressed his pride at Bahrain’s selection to host the Asian Youth Games, highlighting that this trust reflects Bahrain's success in hosting major international sporting events. He commended Bahrain’s global reputation, outstanding capabilities, professional workforce, excellent infrastructure and welcoming people.
His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad instructed the GSA and the BOC to begin preparations for the event, the first time the country will host the Asian Youth Games, ensuring readiness of facilities and coordination with relevant public and private sectors. He emphasised the significance of the event, as it precedes the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
Dr. Al Kuwari expressed his appreciation to Bahrain for its ongoing support of sport both within the Kingdom and across Asia. He expressed his anticipation for successful cooperation to deliver a remarkable Asian Youth Games, which would be a historic milestone in Asian sports, fostering cultural and social connections among young athletes and creating new opportunities for sports development.
Dr. Al Musallam also expressed his pleasure at the agreement, noting that the event marks an important step towards enhancing Asian sports and promoting further collaboration among member nations. He expressed confidence that Bahrain’s proven ability to host major events would make the 2025 Asian Youth Games an exceptional experience for young athletes from across Asia. (Bahrain News Agency)