Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the final phase of Sheikh Kamal Second Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 on Feb 26 at the Bangladesh Army Stadium. Nearly 4,000 youth athletes, who have earned the right to participate in the final phase, would compete for 193 gold, equal numbers of silver and 287 bronze medals in 193 events of 24 disciplines. Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Syed Shahed Reza disclosed the details final phase of the games at a press conference on Wednesday (Feb 22) at the BOA auditorium. The second edition of Sheikh Kamal Bangladesh Youth Games has been named after Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, local media reported.
The inter-upazila first phase of the games was held from Jan 2-10, the inter-district second phase was held from Jan 16-22. After that, eight divisions are going to participate in the final phase to be held in Dhaka.
The BOA organised the Youth Games for the first time in 2018. The main motto of the Games was to select future players for national teams in various disciplines and give the opportunity to develop the talent of young athletes. At the same time, the BOA took the initiative to ensure the regular presence of young athletes in the country's sports arena.
Every four years, Bangladesh Games and a Youth Games have been organised regularly since 2018. In the first edition, 50,000 athletes, coaches, technical officials and sports organisers participated in 21 disciplines. This time, the numbers of disciplines have been increased to 24.
The disciplines are basketball, football, handball, hockey, kabaddi, rugby, volleyball, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, gymnastics, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, squash, cycling, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.
Meanwhile, a torch-rally will be organised on Thursday on the occasion of final phase of the games. BOA President and Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed will light the torch at a stage of the premise of mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara, Gopalganj. The torch of the games will be brought at BOA Bhaban after passing through different districts and then it will be taken to Abahani Club in front of the portrait of Sheikh Kamal.
Finally, the torch will be taken at Bangladesh Army Stadium where the inauguration ceremony will be taken place. The country's fastest sprinter Imranur Rahman, who own gold medal in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship, and karateka Marjan Akter, will light the torch in the inaugural ceremony of the games.
Fastest woman of the country Shirin Akter will take oath on behalf of the athletes while national awardee former FIFA elite referee Tayed Hasan Shamsuzzaman will take oath for judges.
Bangladesh Associations of Bank, Saif Powertec and Walton are the sponsors of the meet.
BOA President and Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed is expected to present in the closing ceremony as the chief guest of the games which will conclude on Mar 4.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Mamun, vice-president of BOA and chairman of media and publicity sub-committee of Sheikh Kamal Second Bangladesh Youth Games 2023 and games steering committee's member secretary Ashikur Rahman Miku, BOA's treasurer and technical sub-committee's member secretary AK Sarkar and games chief co-coordinator Brigadier General Ashrafuzzaman Siddique were present at the press conference.
