The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, a major sports festival for 4.8 billion Asians, will kick off on September 19 in Nagoya, Japan. Over 16 days, athletes from across Asia will compete for 469 gold medals. South Korea aims to secure between 40 and 45 gold medals, targeting a third consecutive third-place finish in the overall medal standings.
This 20th edition of the Asian Games will commence with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on September 19 at the Nagoya Paloma Mizuho Stadium and will run until October 4. A total of 10,798 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) affiliated with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), including a refugee team, will compete in 43 sports across 71 events.
This marks the third time Japan has hosted the Summer Asian Games, following the 1958 Tokyo and 1994 Hiroshima events, and the first time in 32 years.
While the Asian Games are typically held every four years, this event is unusually taking place just three years after the 2022 Hangzhou Games, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The slogan for this year's Games is 'Imagine One Asia,' reflecting the hope for unity and collaboration among Asian nations to build a brighter future together.
Competitions will primarily take place in 19 cities within Aichi Prefecture, with some events held in Tokyo, Osaka, and Shizuoka. Swimming and diving will occur at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, the venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while equestrian events will also be hosted in Tokyo. Football matches will be held in Aichi, Osaka, Shizuoka, and Gifu Prefectures.
New sports making their debut at the Asian Games include virtual taekwondo, padel—a combination of tennis and squash—and techball, which merges football and table tennis.
The South Korean delegation will compete in 41 sports, excluding cricket and padel, with a total of 1,052 members, including 792 athletes. According to the Korea Sports Council, table tennis player Shin Yu-bin and rower Kim Dong-yong will carry the national flag during the opening ceremony. The team leaders during the Games will be archery's Kim Woo-jin and shooting's Ivona.
The main contingent of 122 members arrived at Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya on September 17, including team leader Lee Sang-hyun and 31 officials, along with 91 athletes and coaches from badminton, cycling (road), women's handball, karate, table tennis, and beach volleyball.
The team's goal is to achieve 40 to 45 gold medals and maintain its position as the third overall medal winner for the third consecutive time.
South Korea finished third overall at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games (49 gold, 58 silver, 70 bronze) and the 2022 Hangzhou Games (42 gold, 59 silver, 89 bronze), trailing only China and Japan. From the 1998 Bangkok Games to the 2014 Incheon Games, South Korea secured second place five times in a row but has since ceded that position to Japan.
The Sports Council has set a goal of narrowing the gap with Japan ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, given Japan's expected strength as the host nation, South Korea's success in traditional strong sports like archery and taekwondo will be crucial.
This event is also expected to see South Korea's 800th gold medal and 2500th overall medal at the Asian Games. To date, South Korea has accumulated 787 gold, 723 silver, and 915 bronze medals, totaling 2,425.
Prior to the opening ceremony, some events have already begun. Men's basketball saw South Korea's first game on September 10, with football, volleyball, modern pentathlon, and techball also starting their schedules.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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