NAGOYA, Japan | More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are expected to compete in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with 43 sports and 469 medal events on the program.
The Asian Games, one of the world’s largest multi-sport competitions, will feature traditional Olympic disciplines alongside sports with strong roots in Asia, including kabaddi and sepak takraw. According to the Associated Press, the event is generally regarded as the world’s second-largest multi-sport competition after the Summer Olympics.
One of the most notable features of the Nagoya Games is the decision not to build a traditional Athletes’ Village. Organizers are instead using hotels and other existing accommodations, along with the Costa Serena cruise ship, which is docked in Nagoya and can accommodate thousands of athletes and officials. The approach is intended to reduce construction costs and avoid creating large facilities that could have limited use after the Games.
The Games will include several newer additions to the Asian sporting program, including mixed martial arts, padel, surfing, virtual taekwondo and teqball. Esports and breaking are also included, reflecting the expanding range of sports represented at the continental competition.
China is sending 815 athletes, while host Japan is fielding roughly 900. South Korea’s delegation includes more than 1,000 members. China dominated the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, winning 201 gold medals.
North Korea is also returning to the Asian Games after missing the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Reuters reported that Pyongyang is expected to send around 100 athletes to Nagoya, compared with 185 competitors at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
The Asian Games date back to 1951, when the first edition was held in New Delhi, India. Japan previously hosted the continental competition in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994, making Aichi-Nagoya the country’s third Asian Games host.
The previous Games, originally scheduled for 2022 in Hangzhou, China, were postponed for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually held in 2023. The 2018 edition was jointly hosted by Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia.
The Nagoya Games are Japan’s first major multi-sport event since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, which were held under extensive COVID-19 restrictions and largely without spectators. Organizers are now preparing for larger in-person crowds, although Reuters reported that public awareness and ticket sales had remained concerns in the lead-up to the opening ceremony.
Some competitions began before the official opening ceremony, while the main Games run from September 19 through October 4. The Asian Para Games will follow in Aichi-Nagoya from October 18 to 24.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
