National Olympic Committee comments on OCA’s decision to relocate Asian Youth Games from Tashkent to Bahrain

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) recently announced the relocation of the III Asian Youth Games, originally scheduled for 2025 in Tashkent, to Bahrain. The decision came after it was revealed that the construction of the Olympic Village in Tashkent would not be completed on time.

Photo: Sputnik

According to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Uzbekistan, delays in the construction process were primarily caused by post-pandemic supply chain restrictions, which affected the timely delivery of necessary materials for the Olympic Village. As a result, the completion of the facilities has been postponed, causing a shift in the timeline for the games' preparations.

The NOC had requested that the OCA consider postponing the event by one year to allow for the completion of the infrastructure. However, due to the importance of the games as a qualification round for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, the OCA emphasized the need to hold the event in 2025.

As a result, the OCA transferred the hosting rights of the III Asian Youth Games to Bahrain. The OCA also advised Uzbekistan to focus on preparing for other major international events, such as the Islamic Solidarity Games or the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

The postponement has sparked discussions regarding the readiness of Tashkent's infrastructure for large-scale international sporting events. Despite the setback, Uzbekistan remains committed to preparing for future prestigious sporting competitions.

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