ASIAN YOUTH GAMES – THE third Asian Youth Games hosted by Bahrain, dubbed “a miracle” by a high-ranking Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) official, wrapped up last night with a colourful closing ceremony held at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa attend the event alongside OCA vice-president Timothy Tsun Ting Fok and other high-ranking officials from the kingdom and across the continent.
BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji delivered an address and thanked His Majesty King Hamad for his royal patronage of this year’s Asian Youth Games.
Al Kooheji also thanked His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister; His Majesty King Hamad’s humanitarian work and youth affairs representative and SCYS chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; and Shaikh Khalid for their unwavering leadership in hosting the mega sporting occasion.
Al Kooheji revealed that the Asian Youth Games has generated an incredible economic impact on the kingdom, particularly in hospitality, with all those participating from abroad taking up more than 39,000 room nights across 50 of Bahrain’s various hotels.
Meanwhile, Fok expressed mixed feelings with the conclusion of this year’s edition of the Asian Youth Games. “I am sad that the Games are coming to an end, yet I am happy to have witnessed many exceptional performances,” he said in his address.
Fok lauded the kingdom and its people for “a great job” in hosting the multi-sport event, stating: “The OCA and the visiting countries will leave with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.”
He particularly praised Bahrain for putting the event together in record time – having had less than a year to organise such a momentous spectacle after only being announced as new hosts in December of last year, following the withdrawal of Uzbekistan.
“You achieved a miracle in eight months, and you have proven to us that you are trustworthy partners who we can always rely on at times like this,” Fok claimed.
Fok added that the Asian Youth Games will act as a springboard for the many talented young athletes who participated in the 26 sports held in the kingdom. “This is the first step of their sporting careers,” he said. “I am happy the OCA family enjoyed a superb Games, which play a key role in the development of these athletes, who can say it all began in Bahrain for them.”
Also during last night’s ceremony, Shaikh Khalid presented the OCA flag to OCA vice-president and Uzbekistan’s National Olympic Committee first vice-president Otabek Umarov in the ceremonial hand-over to the Asian Youth Games’ next host. Tashkent will be holding the competition in 2029.
A parade of nations took place as part of last night’s programme, with 3x3 basketball player Yousif Yaqoob Meshael carrying the kingdom’s flag and leading the home delegation into the venue, while the third Asian Youth Games flame was put out.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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