Japan is set to host the 2026 Asian Games after Aichi prefecture and its capital Nagoya were confirmed Sunday as the venue by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). It’s the third time the country will host the Asian Games.
The Asian Games are generally considered the largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.
Japan, hosts of the 2017 Asian Winter Games, 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics, also staged the Asian Games in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said following the decision of the General assembly in Danang, Vietnam, where the Asian Beach Games are underway, “the road map of our main event is very stable.”
“Together with our three Asian Games in 2018, 2022 and 2026, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the next two Winter Olympics in Korea and China…the sports calendar of Asia will be very busy with continental and international events.”
Organizers said in a presentation to the OCA assembly Sunday that the Games would cost $842 million.
According to detailed cost estimates, about 30 per cent of costs are expected to be covered by sponsorship and other revenue, while Aichi prefecture and Nagoya will split the remaining costs on a 70-30 basis.
The Japanese bid was the only candidacy put before the OCA assembly.
The previous Asian Games were held in Incheon, South Korea in 2014. They’re next set to be staged in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia in 2018 and Hangzhou, China in 2022.
