Emperor Naruhito Opened the Twentieth Asian Games in Nagoya as Thailand Led the Parade of Nations
A father and son pair of former Asian Games hammer throw champions lit the cauldron at the end of a ceremony themed Harmonic Heart Beat.
The 20th Asian Games were declared open by Emperor Naruhito at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on the evening of 19 September 2026, starting 16 days of competition that run until 4 October.
Forty six nations and regions, including an Asian Refugee Team, are taking part, with more than 11,000 athletes entered across 43 sports and 469 medal events. Thailand led the parade of nations into the 35,000 capacity stadium, their flag carried by the volleyball middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang and the equestrian rider Chalermchan Yotviriyapanich.
The ceremony, themed Harmonic Heart Beat and directed by the Japanese film maker Yukihiko Tsutsumi, ended with Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi, both former Asian Games hammer throw champions, lighting the cauldron.
The build up was difficult. There is no traditional athletes' village, with competitors housed in hotels, temporary container units and a cruise ship, and there were complaints about cramped rooms, booking mix ups and late buses. Record flooding hit Nagoya the previous week and a typhoon was forecast.
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the president of the Olympic Council of Asia, said that while the world is too often divided by conflict, the athletes are a reminder that sport remains a force for peace. The first gold medal is expected on Sunday 20 September in the men's individual triathlon.