Ayo Victor
NAGOYA: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) held a flag-raising ceremony at the Athletes’ Village in Nagoya yesterday, marking Qatar’s official presence ahead of the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
Members of the Qatar delegation attended the ceremony as preparations continued for the 20th edition of the continental multi-sport event, which will be held from September 19 to October 4 across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya.
Qatar will field a 243-strong athlete contingent at the Games, comprising 184 men and 59 women. The Qatari athletes will compete across a number of sports as they seek to build on the country’s medal haul from the previous edition in Hangzhou.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Qatar secured 14 medals, including five gold, six silver and three bronze.
The Aichi–Nagoya Games are expected to attract more than 17,000 athletes and officials, with competitors set to participate in 43 sports.
Although some competitions have already commenced, the official opening ceremony will take place on September 19, while the Games will conclude on October 4.
The flag-raising ceremony marked an important milestone for the Qatari delegation as athletes and officials settle into the Athletes’ Village ahead of the main competition programme.
With a sizeable contingent representing the country, Qatar will be aiming for strong performances across its participating sports and another successful campaign on the Asian sporting stage.