DOHA — Qatar will receive the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) flag on Sunday during the closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, formally beginning preparations to host the 2030 edition in Doha.
The handover will come as the 20th Asian Games conclude after opening on Sept. 19 with athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees.
The transfer of the flag to Doha marks the return of the Asian Games to Qatar 20 years after the capital hosted the event in 2006.
Qatar’s preparations for Doha 2030 will build on the country’s experience of staging major international sporting events and its existing sports infrastructure and venues. Sustainability and the use of existing facilities will also form part of the preparations.
The Doha 2030 Asian Games Organising Committee delegation has used its time in Japan to gain experience from the Aichi-Nagoya Games through the Observer Programme, including first-hand exposure to organisational and operational aspects of hosting the event.
The flag handover will mark the beginning of a four-year preparation period before the Asian Games return to Doha, with Qatar aiming to build on its experience from the 2006 edition and stage the event again in 2030.
