Phnom Penh, Cambodia, October 8, 2025: Cambodia will send a 150-strong athletes’ delegation to Bahrain for the 3rd Asian Youth Games this month – a key step as it prepares to host the same continental event in 2029.
Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, said the country’s participation in the October 22-31 event in Bahrain is as much about development and organisation as it is about winning medals.
“We are fielding 150 athletes across 14 sports to test our capabilities and identify where we need to improve before 2029,” Chamroeun was quoted as saying in the Cambodian press.
“It’s not only about winning medals. It’s about giving our young athletes international exposure and building the experience needed to manage large scale multi-sports events,” he added.
Cambodia hosted the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in 2023 where a total of 11 countries participated. At the Asian Youth Games, they can expect 45 countries and regions to compete - it will be the biggest sporting event hosted by Cambodia in its history.
At the closing ceremony in Bahrain, Cambodia will officially receive the Asian Youth Games flag from the Olympic Council of Asia.
“Our participation this year is part of the roadmap toward 2029,” Chamroeun noted. “We want to welcome athletes and visitors from across Asia and use the Games as a platform to showcase Cambodia’s culture, hospitality, and growing confidence on the international stage.”
