
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 (BOC), the Executive Committee held a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on August 27, 2025, to announce the final preparations for hosting the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG).
The event will take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025, under the generous patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The conference opened with a speech by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for the Asian Youth Games and member of the organizing committee. He welcomed attendees and conveyed the greetings of H.H. Shaikh Khalid.
“We are approximately two months away from the launch of the Asian Youth Games, which will be held for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, featuring over 6,000 male and female athletes representing 45 National Olympic committees (NOC) competing in 24 sports,” he stated.
“Through this press conference, we affirm our readiness to host the Games. We have made significant progress in meeting all requirements despite the tight timeframe, which has posed a considerable challenge. However, the efforts of the organizing committee, the executive committee, and all governmental bodies have accelerated the pace of work.”
H.H. Shaikh Isa extended his heartfelt thanks to the OCA for its support in hosting the event, as well as to all sponsors, partners, and working committees, and expressed gratitude to the media for their presence.
Mr. Tayyab Ikram, Chair of OCA Coordination Committee, expressed confidence in Bahrain’s ability to
host the Games. He noted, “Despite the short time frame allotted for Bahrain to host, progress is being made positively. We appreciate the efforts Bahrain is making to elevate the Olympic movement in Asia, and we are confident it will host an exceptional event in all aspects.”
On his part, Dr. Thani Al Kuwari expressed gratitude to Bahrain for organising the Games despite the logistical and organizational challenges. He praised the efforts made in organizing through the coordination meeting, highlighting the application of the highest standards.
Late on, Mr. Yousef Duaij, Chair of the Executive Committee, presented a comprehensive overview of the Games' official mascot, “Shahab.” The Arabian Oryx symbolizes vitality, strength, resilience, and ambition—values that reflect both Bahrain and the spirit of youth. “Shahab” connects tradition with the future, representing the rich desert heritage of the host country and inspiring youth to strive for excellence in sports and life. The name “Shahab” draws inspiration from a traditional name commonly used in the Gulf and the Middle East, particularly in Bahrain.
The Executive Committee also introduced two additional mascots, “Najm” and “Dana,” to warmly welcome Asian delegations, serving as ambassadors of Bahraini hospitality, embodying messages of hope and optimism.
The medals and torch for the Games were unveiled, and Mr. Duaij shared several statistics: competitions will take place across 23 venues, with over 30 training fields and three main areas, expecting participation from more than 6,000, including athletes, coaches, officials, media, and medical staff.
During the conference, the executive committee signed an agreement with the three main hotels for the event: The Art Hotel (VIPs), Gulf Hotel (delegations heads), and Swiss-Belhotel.
The event concluded with His Highness Shaikh Isa officially launching the event’s website, to the applause of a well-attended crowd of officials, dignitaries, members of the organizing committee, and representatives from local and international media, as well as government ministries and private sector entities.

