With just under a year to go to the Tashkent 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, the first in-person Coordination Commission meeting took place from the 5th to 7th of October in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
On the first day, the meeting was attended by the President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Mr. Majid Rashed; the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Adkham Ikramov; Mr. Oybek Kasimov, Director of the TAYPGOC Directorate; Ms. Durdona Rakhimova, Deputy Mayor of the City of Tashkent; and Dr Mukhtorkhon Tashkhodjaev, President of NPC Uzbekistan, along with other members of the organising committee and the APC.
The Mr. Adkham Ikramov opened the meeting and stated that, following on from Uzbekistan’s success at the Paris Paralympic Games, the youth para games are an opportunity to demonstrate the success of Para sport in the country, and are part of a strategy to create equal opportunities for all citizens of Uzbekistan; “Our goal is for everyone to feel part of the sport,” he said, “we strive to create conditions where everyone can reach their full potential.” He outlined that in addition to building a more inclusive society, the country is investing in sporting infrastructure in the hopes of further driving tourism to Uzbekistan and said that they hope that the games also leave a legacy in hospitality, infrastructure and transportation.
Afterwards, APC President Majid Rashed said: “Everytime that I have visited Uzbekistan I have been impressed by a new policy or plan to develop para sports and drive a more inclusive society. You believe in using sport as a tool for change and the games in 2025 will turbo charge your efforts.”
In the meeting, the Organizing Committee outlined progress in several key areas including venues, broadcast, accommodation and the competition schedule. The dates for this are from 1 October – 8th October.
On day two the ‘Paralympic Village’ was visited. This is under construction and will have an aquatic centre, velodrome, athletics stadium and two indoor arenas for team sports. which is close to being completed. Eight of the ten sports will be located here with the other two (Para Rowing and Para Canoe) taking place in Samarkand.
On day three, following a meeting with Sports Minister Mr. Adkham Ikramov, President Rashed summed up the meeting; “Over the past few days we have had many meetings to discuss all aspects of the games. We have seen the huge progress on the construction of the venues. These will be spectacular and very athlete friendly. They will leave a legacy for all your Olympic and Paralympic athletes. I’m sure that the fantastic results we saw for you in Paris will be bettered in LA and that at these games, your young athletes will improve on their very good showing at the last Asian Youth Para Games in Bahrain in 2021. “I know that the athletes’ performances in Bahrain and Paris made your country very proud and I’m sure that the games in 2025 will do just the same. The team is working very hard and has a very good plan to deliver spectacular games. The past few days have given us confidence that the games will be a big success”
These will be the fifth Asian Youth Para Games to be held, the third under President Rashid’s presidency. They will be the first to be held in the same city and with a shared organizing committee as the Asian Youth Games. An estimated 1500 athletes from 45 NPCs will compete in ten sports.