The Asian Games, also known as the Asian Athletes’ Championships and the Asian Multi-sports Competition, is an annual continental multi-sport event for athletes from Asia. It is organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The games were first held in 1951 and are now a fully integrated part of the Olympic programme.
The 2026 edition will be the biggest yet, with a total of 32 sports and disciplines – including seven new esports titles. The Asian Games have a reputation for providing the best opportunities for athletes to reach peak performance. Many of the top performers at the pandemic-delayed 2023 edition in Hangzhou went on to win gold at last year’s Paris Olympics. Among the favourites for next year’s Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will be 12th-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who has already clinched two world titles this season.
As the Games are scheduled to take place over a wide geographic area, organisers will have their work cut out to ensure that transportation is smooth and efficient. Shuttle buses will be provided to connect competition venues and public transport stations. And the Organising Committee has partnered with several companies to establish an online reservation system.
The Japanese organising committee is also hoping to build excitement for the Asian Games among local residents by hosting the events in areas that have not seen large sporting events before. The Aichi-Nagoya organisers have signed a Host City Contract with OCA and the Japan Olympic Committee, which details the rights and responsibilities of each party. The Organising Committee will work closely with various government departments to promote the Games.