Thimphu, Bhutan, April 2, 2025: HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, said the ability to “unite, uplift and inspire” is the true power of sport in Asia, as the OCA-OS Regional Forum 2025 got underway on Wednesday, April 2.
“On behalf of His Majesty the King, the Royal Government, and the Bhutan Olympic Committee, it is my great honour to welcome you all to our country. We are deeply grateful to the Olympic Council of Asia and Olympic Solidarity for entrusting us with the privilege of hosting this regional forum,” Prince Jigyel said in his opening address.
The Bhutan NOC President added: “We are pleased to welcome delegates from 24 National Olympic Committees, as well as organising committees from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Japan. Your participation is a symbol of unity in our remarkable diversity – a reflection of the Olympic spirit itself.”
A total of 26 NOCs signed up for the forum, with India and Nepal attending online. The other NOCs are: Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau China, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and hosts Bhutan.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari, OCA Deputy Director General urged all delegates to make full use of the two-day forum to glean as much information on upcoming games as well as Olympic Solidarity funding over the next four-year cycle.
Prince Jigyel, describing sport as a “way of life” in Bhutan, said: “It is central to our national philosophy of Gross National Happiness, serving as a pathway to well-being, resilience and compassion.
“This belief is not unique to us. It is shared across Asia, and reflected in the values of the Olympic Movement. Our continent leads by example and we have seen powerful moments of unity, like North and South Korean athletes competing together as one team and the rise of women athletes as icons of empowerment.
“The Asian Games stand as one of the world’s largest and most inclusive sporting events, uniting 45 nations in peace and mutual respect. This is the true power of sport. Not measured in medals or rankings alone, but in its ability to unite, uplift and inspire.”
The second stage of the OCA-OS Regional Forum will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on April 6-7 for NOCs from West Asia and Central Asia.
Bhutan has pulled out all the stops in organising the forum – a sporting first for the country. Visiting delegates were treated to an official welcome dinner on the ev of the forum, hosted by HE Dasho Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, at the Royal Textile Academy in Thimphu.
Prime Minister Tobgay, reminding his audience that sports and physical fitness were the keys to happiness, pointed out that NOC President Prince Jigyel was a role model to the cause.
