KUWAIT : Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games embody the strength, solidarity and shared vision of the continent as Japan prepares to host Asia’s biggest multi-sport event next month.
Speaking one month before the Games, which run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, Sheikh Joaan said Asia’s size and diversity represented a key strength within the international Olympic movement.
“Japan has a world-class track record in hosting major sporting events, and I have no doubt that Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will set a benchmark for future editions – empowering our youth and inspiring the next generation of Asian sport,” he said.
More than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials from 45 countries are expected to take part in the 16-day Games, featuring 43 sports and 71 disciplines.
A total of 1,407 medals will be awarded across 469 events, with the Games held under the official motto “Imagine One Asia.”
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will mark the third time Japan has hosted the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam thanked Japan for its preparations and said the Games would promote friendship and peace through sport.
“These Games will create memories for millions of people not only in Japan, but across Asia, forging lifelong friendships through sport, promoting peace through our diversity and creating a legacy that reaches every corner of our great continent,” Al-Musallam said.
The event will be supported by about 10,200 volunteers and 5,300 accredited media representatives, with organisers expecting hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 19, with the closing ceremony on Oct. 4.
