Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games close in Nagoya; South Korea finishes third
In short
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closed on Oct 4 with a ceremony at Nagoya's Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, ending 16 days of competition. South Korea finished third with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China and Japan. The next Games are to be held in Doha, Qatar, with both 2030 and 2031 mentioned as outlets reported criticism of the event's operations.
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The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games ended on Oct 4 with a closing ceremony that began at 6 p.m. at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, concluding 16 days of competition, according to Yonhap and other outlets. Seoul Economic Daily reported the ceremony lasted about one hour and 30 minutes. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Japan hosted the Summer Asian Games for the third time, 32 years after the 1994 Hiroshima Games and following Tokyo in 1958. The event was spread across Aichi Prefecture including Nagoya and other areas such as Osaka, Shizuoka and Gifu, with about 10,000 participants from 45 national Olympic committees and a refugee team, under the slogan “IMAGINE ONE ASIA” and its Japanese equivalent, “ここで、ひとつに”. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
South Korea finished third with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China (169 golds, 89 silvers, 83 bronzes) and Japan (83-95-91). Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily reported that South Korea kept its third place from the previous Hangzhou Games but fell short of its stated target of more than 40 golds, with the gap to host Japan widening. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Seo Chae-hyun, who won gold the previous day in the women's sport climbing lead event, carried the South Korean flag as flag bearer. The ceremony was directed by Nagoya-born director Tsutsumi Yukihiko, as was the opening ceremony, and featured performances before the athletes' parade. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Aichi governor Omura Hideaki, who chairs the organising committee, thanked athletes, officials and volunteers and said the goal of “here, as one” had become reality at the Games, according to Seoul Economic Daily and CBS NoCut News. OCA president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani gave a speech and declared the Games closed; the OCA flag was lowered and handed over with the torch to the Doha organising committee. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
The next Games are to be held in Doha, Qatar. Yonhap and Asia Economy said the 21st Asian Games are due in 2030, while also noting that 2031 has been mentioned as the operating model and cycle come under discussion; Seoul Economic Daily reported that Al Thani referred to the next edition as “four years later”. Doha's presentation, themed “This is yours”, featured high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim and equestrian Jassim Al Kuwari, who appeared on horseback, a scene Kyunghyang Shinmun linked to the 2006 Doha opening ceremony. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The Games drew criticism over their operations, with reports of problems in accommodation, transport, training facilities and competition conditions amid what outlets described as extreme cost-cutting; Yonhap wrote that the event fell short of uniting Asia. The flame that had lit the stadium for 16 days was extinguished, and the ceremony closed with the traditional bon odori dance and a performance by singer Matsudaira Ken, a native of Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The closing ceremony hands the Asian Games to Doha, Qatar, but the debate over whether the next edition is held in 2030 or 2031 points to questions over the event's cycle and operating model after reported organisational problems. For South Korea, third place keeps its position behind China and Japan while missing the stated target of more than 40 gold medals.
Key facts
- The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closed on Oct 4 with a ceremony starting at 6 p.m. at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, ending 16 days of competition. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- South Korea finished third with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- China topped the medal table with 169 golds, 89 silvers and 83 bronzes; Japan was second with 83 golds, 95 silvers and 91 bronzes. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Seo Chae-hyun, who won gold in the women's sport climbing lead event the previous day, carried the South Korean flag as flag bearer. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- About 10,000 people from 45 national Olympic committees and a refugee team took part, with events spread across Aichi Prefecture and other areas including Osaka, Shizuoka and Gifu. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The next Asian Games are to be held in Doha, Qatar, with 2030 and 2031 both mentioned. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Outlets reported problems with accommodation, transport, training facilities and competition conditions during the Games. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The closing ceremony was held at 6 p.m. on Oct 4 at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, ending 16 days of competition. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- South Korea finished third with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Seo Chae-hyun carried the South Korean flag as flag bearer at the closing ceremony. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The next Asian Games will be held in Doha, Qatar. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Japan hosted the Summer Asian Games for the third time, 32 years after the 1994 Hiroshima Games. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Outlets reported operational problems at the Games, including accommodation, transport and training and competition environments. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the 21st Asian Games in Doha will be held in 2030 or 2031. Documents differ: Yonhap and Asia Economy say the Games are due in 2030 with 2031 also mentioned, Seoul Economic Daily says the OCA president referred to the next edition as “four years later”, and Kyunghyang Shinmun's photo report described Qatar as the 2030 host.
- The specific nature and extent of the operational problems reported at the Games. Reports describe problems with accommodation, transport, training and competition environments in general terms, citing extreme cost-cutting, without giving detailed incidents.
- The outcome of the debate over changing the Asian Games' cycle and operating model. Documents say such changes have been called for and that holding the Games in the year before the Summer Olympics is one idea, but no decision is reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The closing ceremony begins at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, ending 16 days of competition. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Newsis publishes photos from the ceremony, including Seo Chae-hyun carrying the South Korean flag. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports that the 16-day Asian sports festival has ended. [ 3 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the Aichi governor's closing remarks, the handover to Doha and the possibility of a 2031 edition. [ 4 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun publishes a photo of a Qatari equestrian carrying the OCA flag on horseback. [ 6 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports that the flame was extinguished and that South Korea finished third. [ 8 ]