2017 Asian Youth Games

III Asian Youth Games
Host city Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Nations participating 45
Athletes participating 5,000 (estimated)
Officially opened by President Maithripala Sirisena
Main venue Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium
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The 2017 Asian Youth Games, officially the III Asian Youth Games or the 3rd Asian Youth Games, is an international multi-sport event that is scheduled to be held in 2017 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Approximately 5,000 athletes from 45 nations are expected to participate in 12 sports.[1] The 2017 Asian Youth Games will become the first Multi-sport event hosted by Sri Lanka besides the South Asian Games and the first to be staged outside of the capital of Colombo.

Bidding Process

A map of Sri Lanka with Hambantota marked in south part of the country
Hambantota
Location of Hambantota in Sri Lanka

Hambantota decided on bidding for the games after losing the vote to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games which were eventually awarded to the Gold Coast in Australia.[2] On June 15, 2012 the president of the Olympic Council of Asia Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah announced that Hambantota had been chosen as the host of the games. Indonesia, Qatar, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan also bid to stage the games but were ultimately unsuccessful.[1]

Planning

Lalith Weeratunga is the chairman of the organizing committee. The sports facilities for numerous sports such as badminton and swimming will be built near the existing Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. The country is spending 15 billion Sri Lankan rupees to get ready for the event.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sri Lanka to host 2017 Asian Youth Games". National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. June 15, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ Champika Fernando (June 15, 2012). "Failed Hambantota now settles for Youth Asian Games". Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ Hambantota to get a Sports Village