Dubai, UAE: The spirit of youth, determination, and sporting excellence will shine brightly on Wednesday evening as Mansour Al Naqbi, a member of the UAE National Wheelchair Basketball team, will lead his nation as the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Youth Para Games Dubai 2025.
The ceremony will take place at the Dubai Club for People of Determination Stadium, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
The largest edition in the history of the Games will bring together 1,500 young athletes from 35 countries, competing across 11 Paralympic sports: athletics, swimming, boccia, powerlifting, table tennis, archery, goalball, badminton, wheelchair basketball, arm wrestling, and taekwondo.
With final preparations now complete, teams have arrived in Dubai united by a powerful shared mission — to showcase resilience, passion, and the limitless potential of young Para athletes. The Games represent a vital platform in the athlete development pathway, serving as the first international stepping stone for the next generation of champions.
The host nation, United Arab Emirates, will be represented by 55 male and female athletes, competing in eight sports: boccia, athletics, badminton, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, and arm wrestling.
In the lead-up to the Games, a record number of 851 newly registered athletes underwent medical and sports classification — the highest number in the event’s history — ensuring fair and accurate competition categories based on each athlete’s impairment and performance profile. A total of 64 athletes were successfully classified.
Beyond the field of play, the Games will also celebrate culture and community. The Community and Heritage Village will officially open on Thursday under the inspiring theme:
“From the UAE to the World, From Heritage to the Future: Giving Without Limits.”
As Dubai once again welcomes Asia’s brightest young Para athletes, Dubai 2025 promises to be more than a sporting event — it will be a celebration of courage, inclusion, and the future of Para sport across the continent.
