AsPC signs Host City Contract for Tashkent 2025 Asian Youth Para Games

The Asian Paralympic Committee (AsPC) has signed the Host City Contract with the Organising Committee for the Tashkent 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, set to take place between September and October 2025.

The Tashkent 2025 Games will be the fifth edition of the Asian Youth Para Games and are expected to witness around 1,000 athletes from a record 45 nations (earlier has been 43) take part in 11 Para sports. 

This will be the first time a multi-Para sport Games will be held in the Central Asian region, which will lead to leaving a legacy in the region and inspiring the Paralympic Movement. 

This will also be the first time that the Asian Youth Games and Para Games will be hosted in the same city under the same Organising Committee, following the format of Asian Games and Asian Para Games. 

The last edition of the Asian Youth Para Games was held in Manama, Bahrain in December 2021. Over 700 young athletes from 30 countries competed across nine Para sports. 

Iran finished atop the medals table with 144 medals including 51 golds, followed by Thailand (38 gold) and Japan (32 gold). NPC Uzbekistan received the AsPC flag from NPC Bahrain during the Closing Ceremony of the 2021 Games.

President Majid Rashed and CEO Tarek Souei of the Asian Paralympic Committee attended the signing ceremony, which was held virtually on Thursday, 3 August 2023.

Minister of Youth Policy and Sports in Uzbekistan H.E. Ikramov Adkham Ilkhamovich and H.E. Mukhtorkhon Tashkhodjaev, the president of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Uzbekistan, represented the organisers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rashed congratulated NPC Uzbekistan and the organisers on official confirmation of Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, as the host city.

“Today is an important day for us as we sign the host city contract for the Tashkent 2025 Games. As we aim to make an inclusive world, it’s important the Movement reaches every corner and especially our youth - the future. The Hangzhou 2022 (Asian Para) Games are fast approaching but we are equally excited about the Tashkent 2025 Games. 

“During my recent visit to Tashkent, I met with various officials and stakeholders of the Games and was happy to witness NPC Uzbekistan’s eagerness and enthusiasm to host the Games in 2025. 

“We are also excited about the Olympic and Paralympic Town in Tashkent which will stage all the sport competitions in the same location,” the president added. “We are looking forward to a great event in 2025.”

Rashed also highlighted the growth of the Paralympic Movement in Uzbekistan over the years. Athletes from Uzbekistan have recently achieved excellent results, including at the Paris 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. They were among the top Asian finishers and captured several gold medals in the French capital. 

He expressed hope that the nation will produce amazing results at the upcoming Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games. 

NPC Uzbekistan President Tashkhodjaev said: “We are an ambitious country and have steadily been increasing our delegation size and the number of medals won at both the Asian Para Games and the Paralympic Games.

“Staging the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games shows our commitment to developing the next generation of Para athletes, and we are delighted that our country will be welcoming the best of Asia’s youth to the Central Asian region in two years’ time.”