Asian Youth Games

The Asian Youth Games were conceived by the Olympic Council of Asia as a counterpart to the Asian Games, targeting younger athletes. The idea was first proposed in 2005, and the OCA formally approved the event in 2007. The inaugural edition in Singapore in 2009 featured 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competing in 9 sports, including swimming, athletics, and beach volleyball. The event was designed to provide a stepping stone for young athletes to gain international experience before progressing to the Asian Games and the Olympics.

The format mirrors the Asian Games, with a multi-sport program, a village for athletes, and cultural activities. The OCA sets the age eligibility, typically 14–17, though some sports may have specific age limits. The host city is selected through a bidding process, and the event is held in the year preceding the Asian Games.

Three editions of the Asian Youth Games have been held to date. The first was in Singapore in 2009, followed by Nanjing, China, in 2013, and Hambantota, Sri Lanka, in 2017.¹ The 2021 edition, originally awarded to Shantou, China, was postponed and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next edition is scheduled for 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Each edition has seen growth in participation and sports. The 2013 Nanjing Games featured 14 sports and over 2,400 athletes, while the 2017 Hambantota Games included 10 sports. The event has also been used as a test bed for new sports, such as 3x3 basketball, which made its debut at the 2013 edition.

The Asian Youth Games serve as a crucial platform for nurturing young talent and promoting Olympic values among Asian youth. Many athletes who competed in the AYG have gone on to achieve success at the senior level, including Olympic medalists. For example, Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling, who won gold at the 2016 Olympics, competed in the 2009 AYG.

The event also contributes to the development of sports infrastructure in host cities. Singapore built the Singapore Sports Hub, which later hosted the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, partly inspired by the success of the AYG. The Nanjing Games left a legacy of sports venues that were repurposed for public use.

One lesser-known fact is that the Asian Youth Games were the inspiration for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The success of the 2009 Singapore AYG prompted the International Olympic Committee to launch the YOG in 2010, with Singapore again as host.

Another notable detail is that the 2017 Hambantota Games faced significant logistical challenges, including a change of host city from the originally planned Colombo. The event was held in a newly built sports complex, but some venues were incomplete, leading to a reduced program. Despite this, the Games were praised for their cultural performances and the participation of athletes from all 45 NOCs.

Additionally, the AYG has included non-Olympic sports such as kabaddi and sepak takraw, reflecting the diversity of Asian sports culture. The 2013 Nanjing Games also featured a cultural festival and an education program on anti-doping and healthy living.

NOC

National Olympic Committee, the organization representing a country in the Olympic movement.

OCA

Olympic Council of Asia, the governing body of sports in Asia.

YOG

Youth Olympic Games, an international multi-sport event for young athletes.