With the countdown to the 20th Asian Games entering its final four-month stretch, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Director General Husain Al Musallam has expressed full confidence that the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games will set a new benchmark for sporting excellence in the region.
Iran
NOC; Tehran: Addressing international media representatives during the second
World Press Briefing (WPB) at Nagoya Port Messe, OCA Director General
emphasized that Japan’s rich heritage as a host, having successfully staged the
Games in Tokyo (1958) and Hiroshima (1994), serves as a solid foundation for
the success of this third hosting endeavor.
“We are certain that Aichi-Nagoya will pen another defining chapter
in the Asian Games’ success story, the media will be instrumental in this
journey, capturing the essence of elite competition and relaying the spirit of
these Games to a global audience” said Al Musallam. Highlighting the importance
of international media cooperation, Al Musallam, who also serves as the President
of World Aquatics, noted that the WPB is a critical platform for ensuring
seamless operations ahead of the Games, which are scheduled to run from
September 19 to October 4, 2026. “With only four months remaining, our priority
is to ensure that all members of the press feel empowered and well-prepared. These
Games are set to become the Launchpad for the next generation of Asian sporting
icons—athletes whose journeys will undoubtedly lead them to the global stage at
the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games” he added.
On
the organizational front, AINAGOC Secretary-General Satoshi Murate opened the
briefing by underscoring the value of venue tours and collaborative planning
sessions in helping media outlets finalize their coverage strategies. To
facilitate efficient logistics, Jeans Zhou Jian, the OCA’s Director of Media
and Broadcast, announced that accredited press members would be provided with
public transportation cards upon arrival. This initiative is designed to
streamline travel across the decentralized venue map, which spans Nagoya City,
Aichi Prefecture, and key metropolitan hubs including Tokyo and Osaka.