Qatar Launches Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Campaign as the Asian Games Officially Open in Japan

Qatar has officially commenced its campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, fielding 243 athletes who are set to compete across 26 sports at the continent’s largest multi-sport event.

The 20th Asian Games opened at Mizuho Park Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, bringing together approximately 11,000 athletes representing 45 countries and regions. Olympic and world champions are among those competing across 43 sports and 71 disciplines, with 469 events and a total of 1,407 medals up for grabs during the 16-day competition. The opening ceremony featured artistic and cultural performances celebrating the identities of Aichi and Nagoya, Japanese culture, and the wider cultural diversity of Asia.

Qatar’s delegation joined athletes and officials from 45 participating National Olympic Committees during the traditional parade of nations. Team Qatar athletes Mohammed Saadoun AlKuwari and Reem Al-Sharshani carried the national flag as the delegation entered the stadium, marking the official start of Qatar’s participation in the Games.

Qatar has sent a 427-member delegation to Japan, including 243 athletes—comprising 184 men and 59 women—alongside coaching, technical, administrative, and media teams. The Qatari athletes will compete in 26 sports and 32 disciplines represented by 18 national sports federations, as the country looks to build on its performances at previous editions of the Asian Games.

The Aichi-Nagoya Games will run until October 4. This year marks the third time Japan has hosted the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The Games also come four years before the continental sporting event returns to Qatar, with Doha set to host the Asian Games in 2030.