The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has unveiled the sports programme for the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG), which is scheduled to take place in Shantou, China, from November 20 to 28, 2021.

The event will feature 18 sports, including Olympic mainstays such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and football. Additionally, new Olympic sports like surfing and rock climbing will be part of the competition, along with popular Asian sports such as dragon boat racing and wushu. These sports will offer a diverse and exciting experience for young athletes from across Asia.

In a circular issued to the Presidents and Secretary Generals of the OCA’s 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam expressed his hopes for everyone’s health and safety, while reassuring that all necessary precautions are being implemented to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. He also emphasized that, despite the ongoing challenges, the OCA is continuing its work and collaborating with organizing committees to ensure that preparations for the games proceed smoothly.

The first Asian Youth Games were held in Singapore in 2009, followed by the second edition in Nanjing, China, in 2013. Both events served as test events for the Youth Olympic Games. After the 3rd AYG in Shantou, the 4th edition will be hosted by Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2025.

In addition to the AYG, China will also host the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, Hainan province, from November 28 to December 6, 2020, and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, from September 10 to 25, 2022.