SANYA - The 6th Asian Beach Games closed on Thursday in South China's tropical Sanya, with the closing ceremony held at the seaside Yasha Park.

Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed as fireworks lit up the sky above Sanya Bay.

From April 22 to 30, more than 1,600 athletes from all 45 OCA members competed across 14 sports, 15 disciplines and 62 events. The Games marked the first time China's Hainan province has hosted a continental-level beach sports event, and the first major international sporting event since the Hainan Free Trade Port began island-wide operations last December.

"Together, as one Asia, we have made history," Sheikh Joaan said in his speech. "United by our love of sport and a shared dream, we showed the very best of our continent."

In his address, Sheikh Joaan congratulated China on "delivering an exceptional edition of the Games".

"To Sanya, to the people of Sanya, you rose to the occasion and announced yourself on the world stage," Sheikh Joaan said, adding, "I have no doubt this will be the first of many great sports events hosted in Sanya."

"As these Games draw to a close, we know that the spirit of Sanya will stay with us. It will always remind us that when Asia unites, anything is possible!" Sheikh Joaan concluded.

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Gao Zhidan, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Sanya Asian Beach Games organizing committee, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all participants and supporters of the Games in his speech.

"The Asian Olympic family has engaged in in-depth exchanges, writing a chapter for the Asian Beach Games of unity, friendship and shared prosperity through mutual learning," Gao said.

"Let us join hands to foster peace, solidarity and inclusiveness through sport, and to write the new chapter of a prosperous Asian community with a shared future," Gao added.

Chen Xi, mayor of Sanya, handed the OCA flag to Gao, who then passed it to Sheikh Joaan. Sheikh Joaan subsequently presented the flag to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, marking the handover to Cebu, which will host the next edition of the Asian Beach Games in 2028.

Cebu then staged an artistic performance before the Sanya 2026 cauldron was extinguished amid a fireworks display.

The closing ceremony concluded with a festive beach concert entitled Welcome to Tianya Haijiao, bringing athletes and guests together in a seaside celebration.