The 2026 Asian Games (2026年アジア競技大会), also known as 20th Asian Games (第20回アジア競技大会) and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 (愛知/名古屋2026), will be a multi-sport event celebrated around the Aichi Prefecture in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. The prefecture capital Nagoya will be the epicenter of the events. Nagoya will be the third Japanese city to host the Asian Games, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The event is set to return to its traditional 4-year cycle, after the 2022 edition were postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) welcomed the joint proposal from Aichi prefecture and its capital Nagoya to host the Games at their annual general assembly session in Danang, Vietnam, on 25 September 2016.The joint bid proposal almost did not happen due to financial differences between the two interested parties; these were resolved between 2015 and 2016, allowing the joint bid to be accepted. The OCA originally planned to choose the 2026 host city in 2018, but brought the planning date forward due to the intensity of the region's sporting calendar, including the next two Winter Olympic Games between 2018 and 2022 (held in Pyeongchang and Beijing) and the next Summer Olympic Games (scheduled for Tokyo in 2020).
Development and preparations
editThe city of Nagoya received an estimate of roughly ¥85 billion ($560 million) in costs from the Aichi Prefecture government for the event, 30% of which is expected to be covered by sponsorships and other revenue, while the remainder is planned to be split on a 70–30 basis between Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. In February 2023, the cost ballooned to ¥140.5 billion ($927 million).
In addition to Nagoya, events will be spread across 16 other cities across Aichi Prefecture and some venues in the Greater Tokyo Area that also hosted events during the 2020 Summer Olympics. The current plans are that Paloma Mizuho Stadium will host both the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics events, Nippon Gaishi Hall is scheduled to be the venue for both gymnastics and aquatics, the Vantelin Dome Nagoya will be used for baseball, and the Toyota Stadium will serve as the main venue for football.
The emblem of the Games was unveiled during a ceremony on 1 April 2020. Each colour has its own meaning, with purple representing the iris laevigata, gold for Shachihoko, the golden tiger-fish roof ornaments which are the symbol of Nagoya Castle, and green representing environmental consciousness.
The mascot of the Games, Honohon (Japanese: ホノホン) was unveiled on 14 July 2024. Its design is based on the shachihoko.
The official motto of the 2026 Asian Games, "Imagine One Asia" was announced on 1 April 2020 to mark six years before the opening ceremony.
33 sports from the 2024 Summer Olympics + 10 other sports and disciplines.
Five regional sports that were nominated by each region of the Olympic Council of Asia:
- Wushu (East Asia)
- Sepak takraw (Southeast Asia)
- Kabaddi (South Asia)
- Kurash (Central Asia)
- Jujitsu (West Asia)
Two sports that were part of the 2024 Summer Olympics and are not part of the core Asian Games program:
- Dancesport (Breakdancing)
- Roller sports (Skateboarding)
One sport that entered due to an agreement between AINAGOC (Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee) and the OCA:
A final decision on the inclusion of cricket is scheduled for 2025, with the Asian Cricket Council having pushed for the bid and OCA President Randhir Singh "hopeful" for it. Its potential inclusion would act as the Asian qualifiers event for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
All 48 National Olympic Committees who are members of the Olympic Council of Asia are expected to send Oceanian delegations. Australia, Guam and New Zealand Invited to the Asian Games.
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