On Wednesday, Bahrain unveiled the latest preparations for the 3rd Asian Youth Games, which the Kingdom will host from October 22 to 31, 2025. The event will feature over 5,000 male and female athletes representing 45 Asian Olympic Committees, competing in 24 sports.

This was announced in a speech delivered by Sheikh Isa bin Ali, Deputy President of the Olympic Council of Asia for the Asian Youth Games and member of the Games' Supreme Organizing Committee, during a press conference to reveal the latest preparations for hosting the event under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Sheikh Isa stated, "We are approximately two months away from the launch of the 3rd Asian Youth Games, which will be held for the first time on the land of the Kingdom of Bahrain. We announce our readiness after having made significant progress in completing all requirements, despite the short timeframe, which posed a major challenge. However, the efforts of the Supreme Organizing Committee, the Executive Committee, and all government entities have contributed to accelerating the pace of work."

He expressed gratitude to the Olympic Council of Asia for its support to the Kingdom of Bahrain in hosting the Games and extended thanks to all sponsors, partners, and working committees. At the end of the press conference, he officially launched the Games' website.

Following this, Yousif Dawij, Chairman of the Games' Executive Committee, delivered a comprehensive presentation, unveiling the main mascot of the Games, "Shahab." The mascot, inspired by the energetic and lively oryx, was designed to embody unity, strength, flexibility, and ambition—values shared by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the spirit of youth.

"Shahab" bridges heritage and the future, representing the host country's rich desert traditions and inspiring youth to strive for excellence in sports and life. The name "Shahab" is inspired by a traditional name commonly used in the Gulf and Middle East regions, particularly in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Executive Committee also adopted two additional mascots to welcome Asian delegations: "Najm," a young boy, and "Dana," a young girl. They serve as ambassadors of Bahraini hospitality, conveying warm welcomes to all Asian delegations and radiating messages filled with hope and optimism. The presentation also included the unveiling of the Games' medals and torch.

Dawij provided a set of statistics, noting that the competitions will be held across 23 venues and over 30 training grounds, spanning three main zones. The event is expected to involve more than 6,000 professionals, including athletes, coaches, administrators, media personnel, and medical staff.