Asian Games opens in Japan

The Asian Games 2026 has opened in Nagoya, Japan. Athletes from 45 countries and territories joined the opening ceremony on Saturday at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

Over 280 athletes on Team Japan were the last to march into the stadium for the ceremony. They were led by Fujinami Akari, who won gold in women's wrestling at the Paris Olympics, and Nakamura Rimu, who will compete in the BMX freestyle. Japan has its largest-ever delegation in the games, with 900 athletes.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito officially declared the games open.

The torch relay that included about 1,000 runners was complete when the cauldron was lit by Murofushi Koji, Olympic gold medalist in the men's hammer throw, and his father.

This edition features 43 sports, including qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in surfing and hockey. There are also sports not featured at the Olympics, such as Kabaddi, Sepaktakraw, and e-sports.

The 16-day event will run through October 4. Japan last hosted in 1994, when the event was held in Hiroshima.