Asian Games 2026 to begin in Japan on September 19

The 2026 Asian Games will be held in the Japanese city of Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture from September 19 to October 4. According to The National, more than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete for medals in 43 sports.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. At the same time, preliminary rounds in some disciplines, including basketball, have already begun.

Preparations for the tournament

Organizers had to find accommodation for more than 17,000 athletes and officials, exceeding the expected 15,000. Due to the lack of a specially equipped athletes' village, hotels, cottages and a cruise ship were used for accommodation.

Preparations were also complicated by heavy rains in Japan. Following downpours in Nagoya, hundreds of athletes and officials were temporarily evacuated. Water flooded roads and entered some sports venues, but the Games are expected to take place.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Favorites and the UAE team

China has sent 815 athletes to the Games, including 36 Olympic champions. The country has topped the medal table at every Asian Games since 1982. At the previous Games, the Chinese team won 201 gold medals, Japan won 52, South Korea 42 and India 28.

The UAE will be represented by 165 athletes — 117 men and 48 women — in 23 disciplines, including athletics, swimming, football, esports, judo, shooting, boxing, karate and jiu-jitsu. It will be the country's debut at the Asian Games in modern pentathlon and padel tennis. The UAE men's national football team will begin its campaign with a match against Iran in Group B, which will also include China and North Korea.

The Asian Games will be held in Japan for the third time. The first competition was held in New Delhi in 1951, while the next two tournaments will be hosted by Doha in 2030 and Riyadh in 2034.

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