🇧🇭 A Memorable Finale as the Flag Passes to Tashkent 2029
Manama, Bahrain – October 31, 2025: The 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) concluded on a high note in Manama, with Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Timothy Fok, lauding Bahrain for delivering a spectacular and memorable event.
The Closing Ceremony, held at Khalifa Sports City, celebrated the athletes, organizers, and volunteers who made the 14-day multi-sport festival a resounding success.
🎤 Fok: “It All Began for Me in Bahrain”
In his closing remarks, Timothy Fok highlighted the Games’ impact on nurturing Asia’s next generation of sporting stars.
“We have enjoyed a superb spectacle, one which will play a key role in the development of our athletes who can one day say, ‘It all began for me in Bahrain.’”
— Timothy Fok, Acting President, OCA
Fok praised Bahrain’s organizational excellence and warm hospitality, saying the OCA and all 44 visiting National Olympic Committees (NOCs) would leave with “cherished memories to last a lifetime.”
“Bahrain, you have done us proud,” Fok said, commending the host nation for its professionalism and commitment to youth sports.
🌏 The Games at a Glance
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Event | 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) |
| Host City | Manama, Bahrain |
| Duration | 14 days |
| Total Athletes | 4,051 |
| Participating Nations | 45 NOCs |
| Top Performing Nation | China |
| Next Host City | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (2029) |
This edition marked the second major event under the OCA in 2025, following the Harbin Asian Winter Games held in February.
💬 Legacy of the Games
Yousif Duaij, Chairman of the Bahrain Asian Youth Games Organising Committee, emphasized that the impact of the Games extends beyond medals and competition.
“We want these Games to inspire a generation, and if they strengthen the bonds between nations and ignite ambition in youth, then we will have succeeded,” Duaij said.
The 2025 AYG not only showcased emerging athletic talent but also underscored Bahrain’s growing stature as a hub for international sporting events.
🚩 Passing the Torch: Bahrain to Tashkent
A symbolic highlight of the evening was the OCA flag handover ceremony — a tradition that marks the transition to the next host city. convert skp to fbx online
| Ceremony Detail | Participants |
|---|---|
| Flag Handover | From Bahrain to Uzbekistan |
| Presented by | HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee |
| Received by | OCA Acting President Timothy Fok |
| Next Host Representative | Otabek Umarov, OCA Vice President for Central Asia |
As the flag was passed to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the audience celebrated not only the conclusion of a successful Games but also the promise of a new chapter for Asian youth sports in 2029.
🌟 A Celebration of Youth, Unity, and Excellence
The Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain will be remembered as a celebration of talent, friendship, and sportsmanship. From record-breaking performances to moments of unity, the event showcased the spirit of Asia’s next generation of athletes.
As the lights dimmed in Manama, the message from the Olympic Council of Asia was clear — the future of Asian sport looks brighter than ever.
