Nagoya: Guided by the respective slogans 'Imagine One Asia' and 'Imagine One Heart,' the 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026) and the 5th Asian Para Games will bring together athletes from across Asia. According to Philippines News Agency, the Asian Games, Asia's largest sporting event, will take place over 16 days beginning Sept. 19, featuring 43 sports contested across 53 venues. The Asian Para Games, the first to be held in Japan, will follow on Oct. 18, with 18 sports contested across 19 venues over seven days.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which organizes the Games, is committed to bringing people together across languages, cultures, and borders and passing international friendship and peace on to future generations. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 aims to harness the power of sports in the hope that people living in an increasingly diverse society can move toward the future by envisioning their own 'One Asia.' The slogans also express the hope that everyone involved in the Games, including athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators, will come together through shared time and space, experiences, and emotions.
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 announced its bid 10 years ago and began preparations in earnest seven years ago, when the organizing committee was established. Thanks in part to their world-class industrial strength, Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City have strong ties across Asia and a vibrant sports culture. Working together as one region, they aim to provide athletes from across Asia with an environment where they can perform at their best, while promoting sports and international exchange and developing people through hosting the Games.
According to Yasuhiro Nakamori, acting Director General of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Organizing Committee, the first Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India, in 1951, shortly after World War II. A total of 11 countries, including Japan, took part in the inaugural Games, which were founded in the hope of rebuilding ties among Asian nations torn apart by the war and contributing to peace. Since then, the Games have continued to uphold the ideals of promoting international peace and friendship among nations through sports and are generally held every four years.
At the 1994 Hiroshima Games, the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, all of which had gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, made their first appearance at the Asian Games. Cambodia, still rebuilding after its civil war, also sent a delegation for the first time in 20 years. The Hiroshima Games saw a number of incidents. During and after the Games, more than 10 athletes and members of the media from several countries, including Iran and Bangladesh, temporarily went missing. They were believed to be seeking work in Japan and intending to remain in the country illegally.
Earlier this year, Nagoya City launched its Friendship Program to deepen residents' understanding of diversity and raise awareness of an inclusive society through lectures on three themes: 'Learning About the Games,' 'International Understanding,' and 'Understanding Disabilities.' Former and current athletes, including former Japan national table tennis team member Minami Ando, gave talks and hands-on instruction on the enjoyment of sports and the importance of an inclusive society, with the aim of generating greater interest in the Games.
Traditional Asian sports such as sepaktakraw and kabaddi will be among the highlights of the Games, along with several unique sports making their debut. First is combat sports, which draw on traditional Eastern martial arts and include disciplines such as jiu jitsu, kurash, kenpo, wushu, and mixed martial arts (MMA). Another is padel, which combines elements of tennis and squash. Originating in Mexico in 1969, padel has since become popular around the world and is a game of strategy and technique.
One distinctive feature of Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is the decision to forgo building an athletes' village to keep costs as low as possible. Instead, the Costa Serena, a 110,000-ton Italian-flagged cruise ship, will be used as accommodation for team delegations. The ship will be moored at Nagoya's Kinjo Pier, providing accommodation for several thousand people. Another first for the Games is a mobile accommodation facility developed as a new model offering excellent accessibility.
Kosei Inoue, chef de mission of the Japanese delegation, spoke about the significance of holding the Games in Japan. 'Hosting the Games in our own country gives us an opportunity to bring the value of sport directly to society. Above all, I want children to see top-level competition firsthand,' he said. 'Seeing elite athletes, including those representing Japan, compete at their best should inspire children to take on challenges of their own.'
The Games will be Japan's largest international multi-sport event since the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, held in 2021. They will provide visitors from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world - as well as residents of Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture, and communities throughout Japan - with an ideal opportunity to experience firsthand the energy and excitement of world-class athletes in action. At venues throughout the Games, spectators are also expected to see Japanese athletes interacting with their counterparts from across Asia, regardless of who wins or loses.
