Children of Asia International Sports Games were launched in 1996 under the initiative of the first President of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) Mikhail Nikolayev; they were devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Olympic Movement. They have been held since then together with the Olympic Committee of Russia, Federal Agency on Physical Culture and Sports, Ministry of Foreign Relations and Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. The Games are patronaged by the International Olympic Committee and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
In their essence, the Children of Asia Games resemble the similar junior sports forums and the "adult" Olympic Games, but they are of smaller scale. A lot of sports facilities are involved in the Games; there is an Olympic Village to accommodate the participants, as well as a special informational and transportation network, security system and interesting cultural program. The Children of Asia Games join the countries to develop children's sports, to install patriotism, to promote the ideas of the Olympic movement and to enhance friendship and peace in the whole world.
Intensive construction of sports facilities meeting the world standards has been launched due to the Children of Asia Games. "50 Let Pobedy" Sports Palace, "Tuymaada" Stadium with a track and field athletics ground, "Elley Bootur" Ice Palace, "Dolgun" gymnasium and swimming pool at Yakutsk State University and "Modun" Sports Complex were put into operation in 1995-2000.
The policy of the President and the Government of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) aimed at the priority development of physical culture and sports and formation of a healthy lifestyle yields fruit. There are 24 stadiums, 537 gymnasiums and 28 swimming pools in the regions and towns of the Republic.
There are 59 sports schools where 35 kinds of sports are cultivated, and more than 35 thousand students regularly train under the guidance of 630 salaried and 433 part-time coaches.