Bahrain is set to host the Asian Youth Games for the first time, bringing together some of the best young athletes, new sports and a week of intense competition.

Final preparations are underway to introduce the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) from October 22 to 31, to be held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the General Sports Authority and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.

This marks the first time the Kingdom welcomes the event, with over 6,000 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competing.

The AYG will showcase a wide range of sports, including swimming, athletics (track and field and cross-country), badminton, 3×3 basketball, boxing, camel racing, cycling, equestrian (endurance and show jumping), esports, futsal, golf, handball, jiu-jitsu, judo, kabaddi, Muay Thai, table tennis, taekwondo, teqball, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, beach volleyball and beach weightlifting.

The organising committee, in collaboration with the Olympic Council of Asia, has also officially added Pencak Silat (a form of traditional martial arts) and Kurash (folk wrestling), bringing the total number of sports to 26. Pencak Silat, widely popular across Asia, is seen as a valuable addition.

Competitions will take place across 23 venues, supported by more than 30 training fields and three main areas. The Games are designed for athletes aged 14 to 18 and will serve as qualifying events for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Dakar in summer 2026.

While the official opening is on October 22, seven events will start earlier: men’s futsal, handball and volleyball on October 19, followed by women’s futsal, kabaddi, teqball and beach volleyball on October 21.

The final day, October 31, will feature the men’s and women’s swimming events and award presentations, alongside the closing ceremony.

Central to the Games is the official mascot, Shahab, an Arabian Oryx symbolising vitality, strength, resilience and ambition. Two additional mascots, Najm and Dana, will welcome delegations, serving as ambassadors of Bahraini hospitality.

The event’s gold, silver and bronze medals have already been unveiled and feature the official emblem of the Games, surrounded by stylised elements representing the word ‘Bahrain’.

The inaugural Asian Youth Games took place in Singapore in 2009, followed by the second edition in China in 2013. Held under the Olympic Council of Asia, the Games are a significant event for youth sports across the continent.

With Asia’s brightest young athletes competing for glory, the 3rd AYG promises exciting, high-level action and a platform to inspire the next generation of talent, while reinforcing Bahrain’s growing reputation as a host of international sporting events. ✤

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