Nagoya, Japan : Qatar will receive the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Flag today, Sunday, during the Closing Ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, officially marking the beginning of its journey towards hosting the 21st Asian Games in Doha in 2030.
The curtain will come down on Aichi-Nagoya 2026 today after the Games, which began on 19 September with the participation of 45 National Olympic Committees, before the Asian Games flag passes to Doha, the next host of Asia’s largest multi-sport event.
The Flag Handover carries special significance for Qatari sport, coming 20 years after Doha first hosted the Asian Games in 2006. It also marks the beginning of a new phase of preparations ahead of the Games’ return to the Qatari capital in four years.
Doha’s preparations for the next edition will build on Qatar’s extensive experience in staging major sporting events, as well as its advanced infrastructure and sports venues that have hosted numerous international competitions. Sustainability and the optimal use of existing venues will also be central to preparations for Doha 2030.
During their time in Japan, the Doha 2030 Asian Games Organising Committee delegation have also sought to benefit from the experience of Aichi-Nagoya 2026 by participating in the Observer Programme and gaining first-hand insight into the organisational and operational aspects of hosting the Games.
Today’s Closing Ceremony is set to mark an important milestone on the road to Doha 2030, as the OCA Flag passes to Qatar and a new four-year chapter begins ahead of the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.
Qatar aim to deliver an exceptional edition of the Asian Games when the event returns to Doha following the memorable 2006 edition. The next four years will open a new chapter in Qatar’s distinguished record of hosting major international sporting events.
