Arya News - The delegation from Nepal – which suffered extensive damage from massive mudslides in the region bordering China in August – also participated in the opening ceremony and received cheers from the spectators.
NAGOYA – The Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 officially started Saturday with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya.
The Japanese delegation marched in the ceremony, led by two flag bearers, wrestler Akari Fujinami and BMX rider Rimu Nakamura. Competition fully began Sunday, featuring events including swimming in which Japan aims for a hefty medal haul.
The opening ceremony began at 6 p.m. with a visual presentation depicting a beam of light shining down on Aichi. Shortly after that, a countdown started, and when it reached zero, a huge cheer erupted from the crowd.
Fireworks are seen during the opening ceremony.
The lights arranged around a heart-shaped stage all were lit up at once. Accompanied by festive music, vibrant laser beams enveloped the venue. As drones with wings soared through the air, about 250 dancers repeatedly gathered and dispersed in various formations — a performance meant to emphasize bringing together the diverse hearts and pulses of people. At the end, the dancers made formations to spell out the word “WELCOME” to express this message to the athletes and spectators.
The Asian Games’ torch relay, in which about 1,000 people participated, reached its climax with past Games gold medalists.
The final torchbearers were Koji Murofushi, who won the gold medal in the men’s hammer throw at the Athens Olympics, and his father, Shigenobu, who won five consecutive Asian Games titles in the same event. They ascended the stairs together, waved to the spectators and jointly lit the cauldron.
Members of the Nepali delegation march in the opening ceremony.
The delegation from Nepal — which suffered extensive damage from massive mudslides in the region bordering China in August — also participated in the opening ceremony and received cheers from the spectators.
Members of the Nepali delegation entered the venue wearing black jackets. Waving their national flag or their hands, they responded to the cheers with smiles. During the 16-day Games, 136 Nepali athletes plan to compete in 22 sports, such as kabaddi, cricket and volleyball. Special attention will be paid to the women’s karate event, in which Nepal won a silver medal at the previous Asian Games.
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