Bahrain bid a proud farewell to the 3rd Asian Youth Games last night with a vibrant closing ceremony at Khalifa Sports City, drawing to a close an event that captured the spirit of unity across the continent.
In a celebration marked by emotion, delegations from all 45 Asian nations paraded through the arena, greeted by loud cheers from the stands. The moment reflected both the diversity of Asia and the shared sense of pride in what had been achieved. It was a fitting tribute to Bahrain’s remarkable accomplishment in organising the Games in just over eight months, something few believed possible when the Kingdom first took on the challenge.
That achievement took centre stage as His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the General Sports Authority and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, ceremoniously handed over the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) flag to Otabek Umarov, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Uzbekistan. The symbolic exchange officially marked the transfer of hosting rights to Tashkent for the 2029 Asian Youth Games, bringing Bahrain’s brief yet brilliant chapter to a close.
OCA First Vice President Timothy Fok praised Bahrain’s efforts in glowing terms, describing the Games as “nothing short of miraculous.” He commended the Kingdom’s ability to stage such a major continental event with grace, efficiency, and heart, highlighting the volunteers and young athletes as the true heartbeat of the Games. His remarks drew warm applause when he thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, whose patronage, he said, gave the Games their soul.
Fok’s message resonated deeply with the audience, reminding all that the Games were about far more than medals or records. He said the 45 visiting nations would leave Bahrain with memories that would last a lifetime, capturing the idea that this was not only a competition but also a festival of friendship and youth.
That same sentiment carried through in the remarks of Faris Al Kooheji, Secretary-General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, who reflected on the immense effort behind the scenes. He credited the country’s leadership, including His Majesty the King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for their vision and unwavering support, which transformed an ambitious idea into a national success story.
Al Kooheji spoke about the scale of the operation, noting that nearly every ministry played a role in making the event possible. With no time to build an athletes’ village, Bahrain instead transformed Exhibition World Bahrain into a “competition village” that hosted 11 of the 28 sports. More than 4,000 athletes and 13,000 guests participated across the Kingdom, generating over 39,000 hotel nights. It was a logistical feat that, he said, showed the world what Bahrain can achieve when it works as one.
Turning to the athletes, Al Kooheji reflected on the legacy the Games would leave behind. Many of the young competitors, he said, would go on to become Olympians, and when they do, they will remember that it all began in Bahrain. His words drew a standing ovation from the volunteers and organising teams who had worked tirelessly for months to make the event possible.
As the evening drew to a close, the atmosphere inside Khalifa Sports City was one of pride and reflection. Bahrain’s eight-month journey, from planning to podiums, had come full circle, leaving behind a legacy of friendship, excellence, and belief in what youth can achieve.
