Hussain Al-Musallam

MANAMA, Oct 20: The Olympic Council of Asia has hailed the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting a historic and unprecedented event, the 3rd Asian Youth Games, taking place from October 22 to 31. Over 4,000 athletes will compete in 249 medal events across 26 Olympic and Asian sports.

The Council praised Bahrain’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, comprehensive preparations, and seamless logistics, as well as the warm welcome extended to all participating delegations. These efforts, carried out under the generous patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, meet the highest international standards.

Captain Hussain Al-Musallam, Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, emphasized that Asia’s sporting achievements are the result of strategic planning, dedication from national Olympic committees, and extensive support for youth development programs. These initiatives are designed to nurture young talent, develop their skills, and prepare them for success on the international stage.

Al-Musallam added that the Bahrain 2025 Asian Youth Games foster human values such as peace, cultural diversity, harmony, friendship, and fair play, helping athletes cultivate both awareness and competitive skills. These values align with the Council’s strategy to promote sustainable excellence and pride for Asian athletes.

He described the event as a vital platform for preparing Asia’s future champions, ahead of the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics and the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. With participants aged 14 to 17, the Games serve as a benchmark for measuring athlete development across Asia, and as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympic Games.