With just three weeks to go, Bahrain has finalised preparations to host the Third Asian Youth Games, welcoming more than 4,300 athletes from 45 countries who will compete in 24 sports and two exhibition events.
Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Bahrain Olympic Committee, praised the efforts of the organising teams, stressing the Kingdom’s proven experience and infrastructure for staging major international events. He highlighted that all venues, safety protocols and logistics are in place, with delegations set to arrive shortly.
The Games, relocated from Tashkent to Bahrain in late 2024, have required an accelerated work schedule, with 23 venues and over 30 training sites refurbished in under a year. Shaikh Isa emphasised both organisational excellence and athletic performance, noting that young athletes will not only compete for medals but also prepare for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
