Why was Tashkent-2025 canceled? The NOC speaks out

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) recently announced its decision to withdraw Uzbekistan’s hosting rights for the 2025 Asian Youth Games, awarding them instead to Bahrain. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Uzbekistan has issued an official statement explaining the situation.  

On December 2, the OCA Executive Committee convened virtually, with the agenda including a review of an appeal from Uzbekistan’s NOC and the Ministry of Sports. The Uzbek side had requested a one-year extension for hosting the III Asian Youth Games due to post-pandemic disruptions in the delivery of materials needed for the Olympic Village's construction, which delayed its completion.  

However, since the III Asian Youth Games are intended to serve as qualifiers for the 2026 Dakar Summer Youth Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) emphasized the necessity of holding the event in 2025. Consequently, the OCA decided to relocate the Games to Bahrain.  

In its statement, the IOC encouraged Uzbekistan to focus on preparing for future large-scale events, such as the Islamic Solidarity Games or the Asian Martial Arts and Indoor Games.  

The NOC of Uzbekistan reaffirmed the country’s dedication to developing sports and the Olympic movement. “We remain committed to implementing the President's directives to complete the Olympic Village, ensure its productive use, and elevate our sports to new heights. This complex will be fully prepared to host major sporting events in the future,” the statement read.