For eleven days, thirty teams from 24 countries competed in 24 sports. A total of 239 sets of medals were awarded.
The closing ceremony began with a parade of winners and runners-up. The packed stands greeted the heroes of the competition with thunderous applause from the event participants.
“The Games have become an invaluable experience of performance at the highest level. The athletes achieved excellent results, demonstrated strength, endurance and will to win,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko at the closing ceremony.
The Deputy Prime Minister warmly thanked the athletes, organizers, volunteers, fans and hosts of the tournament and said that the next Asian Children’s Games in winter sports will be held in 2027.
The Head of Yakutia, Aysen Nikolaev, expressed his gratitude to all those who were sick in heart and soul for making the Asian Children’s Games in Yakutsk a real celebration of sport, childhood and friendship.
“Together we confirm the motto of our Games: one continent, one team, one determined team of the future!” – said Nikolaev.
On behalf of all Yakutians, he thanked the Council of Asia, the Olympic Committee, the Government of the Russian Federation and Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for their support and personal attention.
Aisen Nikolaev congratulated the winners and prize-winners of the VIII Asian Children’s Games. The national team of Uzbekistan, which won 36 gold medals, confidently took first place in the team competition. In second place is the team of the Siberian Federal District with the 31st gold medal, in third place is the team of the Republic of Belarus with 27 top awards. On the last day of the competition, the Belarusians snatched the bronze pedestal from the first team of Yakutia, which won 25 gold medals in home matches.
“I wish even greater success to every young athlete who took the start. We, the people of Yakutia, are proud that for almost three decades the Asian Children’s Games have united thousands of people, united the young generation of Asia and other countries, the continent and the Russian regions!” the head of the republic stressed.
The Chairman of the International Committee “Children of Asia” Vladimir Maksimov declared the VIII International Summer Sports Games “Children of Asia” closed.
“I thank all residents of Yakutia for the warm welcome and festive atmosphere! Yakutsk, thank you! I declare the VIII Asian Children’s Games 2024 closed! See you at the IX Asian Children’s Games in 2028!” – said Vladimir Maksimov.
The Uzbekistan national team member, taekwondo champion Bekhruz Salimov, spoke on behalf of the participants.
“Many of us will return home with medals, and all of us will take with us unforgettable impressions of the hospitable land of Yakutia, but we will never forget Yakutia, the Children of Asia and new friends. I am proud to graduate from the Games. May there always be peace, may there always be “Children of Asia”!” said the young athlete.
The young cadets lowered the official flag of the International Committee “Children of Asia” and handed it over to the winners of the Games. The mascots of the Games – the chipmunk Saina and the baby mammoth Modun – said a touching goodbye to the participants of the grand event. The ceremonial part ended with a bright concert program “We are the children of Asia! We are the children of the sun!”
The VIII International Sports Games “Children of Asia” were held in Yakutsk from June 26 to July 7. Athletes under 16 years old from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Republic of Belarus, Georgia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, North Korea, China, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Palestine, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan took part.
The current “Children of Asia” includes 24 sports. These are boxing, wrestling, hapsagai, judo, kickboxing, athletics, wrestling, swimming, shot put, sambo, archery, clay pigeon shooting, table tennis, dance sports, taekwondo, rhythmic gymnastics, 3×3 basketball, volleyball, futsal, chess, Go, rock climbing, kurash and “Alysh” belt wrestling.
The competition was attended by 707 judges from 17 countries and 58 regions of Russia, as well as almost two thousand volunteers from regions of Russia and foreign countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Oman.
