2025 Asian Youth Games Moved from Tashkent to Bahrain

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced that the 3rd edition of the Asian Youth Games in 2025, which had been due to be hosted in Tashkent, is to be moved to Bahrain. This decision was put down to some of the venues in the Uzbek capital being unready. Uzbekistan's National Olympic Committee (NOC) issued a statement explaining that the country had asked the OCA to postpone the competition for one year. There have been delays in the construction of the $289 million Olympic Campus due to post-pandemic constraints. However, the OCA refused the postponement because the 2025 Games are a selection stage for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. As a result, the event will now be hosted by Bahrain. The OCA recommended that Uzbekistan focus on preparations for other sporting events, such as the Islamic Solidarity Games or the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. "The construction of the Olympic City remains a key project for the development of sports in Uzbekistan. We intend to complete its construction on time and turn it into a base for major international competitions," the NOC said.