Manama, Bahrain, May 16, 2025: Hats off to Bahrain – this was the unanimous verdict from the officials from the Asian National Olympic Committees after visiting the two main sporting hubs for the 3rd Asian Youth Games in October.
The final day of the 1st Chefs de Mission and Technical Delegates meetings on Friday, May 16 ended with the thumbs up given to the Bahrain Asian Youth Games Organising Committee by all Asian NOCs impressed with the facilities available for the October 22-31 showpiece.
“In order for a country to host Games of this magnitude at such a short notice, they have to be 100 percent ready, and from what we have seen today, Bahrain is ready,” was the view from Saudi Arabia’s deputy Chef de Mission Marcelo Braga.
The comments from Braga, who is also the Games Director of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, were echoed by everyone else as BAYGOC officials proudly showed off the facilities at Isa Sports City and Exhibition World Bahrain, the two main hubs.
“This is why the games were awarded to Bahrain by the Olympic Council of Asia. There are absolutely no issues with facilities,” said Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, Pakistan Olympic Association Secretary General.
During the press conference wrapping up two days of meetings on Thursday, May 15, OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari had praised the Bahrain Olympic Committee and games organisers for the “sustainable” nature of the games – all facilities for the 24 sports being already in place.
The OCA awarded Bahrain the rights as host city of the 3rd AYG in December, 2024, after Tashkent, Uzbekistan had pulled out.
“It is amazing at the level of readiness from Bahrain, considering that they only got hosting rights just five months ago. Everything is in place and I’m sure the games will be an outstanding success,” said Thamooh Ahmed Saeed, Secretary General of the Maldives Olympic Committee.
The CdMs and other NOC officials were first taken to the 16,000-seater Bahrain National Stadium which will host all the track and field events. Opposite this venue, in Isa Sports City, were three indoor halls where table tennis and volleyball will be held.
The next stop was Exhibition World Bahrain – a massive 154,000 square metres facility boasting 10 halls where judo, jiu-jitsu, MMA, muay thai, boxing, esports, taekwondo, wrestling, kabaddi and teqball will be featured.
This venue – two connected halls – will also hold the Opening Ceremony of the games on October 22.
“The Opening Ceremony will be held indoors in the evening and it will be short and sweet – lasting around one hour,” revealed Mariam Mahmood, BAYGOC Head of Ceremonies.
