🔻The 20th Asian Games were inaugurated in Nagoya, Japan, with a lively and colorful opening ceremony.

🔻The 20th Asian Games were inaugurated in Nagoya, Japan, with a lively and colorful opening ceremony.

11,000 athletes from 45 countries, along with a team made up of refugees, are taking part in these competitions.

Iran’s sports delegation is also participating in these games with 305 athletes, competing in various disciplines starting from the first day of the 2026 Asian Games.

The organizers of these games, in an effort to save costs, have tried to house the athletes and officials not by building a dedicated village, but by accommodating them in a combination of hotels, temporary containers, and a cruise ship.

The move has also faced criticism.

On Friday, ahead of the men’s hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh, the national anthem of North Korea was mistakenly played, prompting a protest from the South Korea team.

The Olympic Council of Asia, while acknowledging that some initial problems exist, announced that these issues are being addressed. 📷Getty