Oman Takes Part in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Opening Ceremony

Oman Participates in Opening Ceremony of Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Nagoya: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Oman Olympic Committee, participated today in the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026), being hosted by Japan from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 with the participation of athletes from across Asia.

The Omani delegation at the opening ceremony was headed by His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, President of the Oman Olympic Committee, in the presence of a number of officials from the committee.

The ceremony was held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya and featured artistic and cultural performances reflecting the identity of Aichi and Nagoya, Japanese culture and the cultural diversity of the Asian continent.

The ceremony’s logo was inspired by the Asian Games slogan “Imagine One Asia”, with the image of a beating heart symbolising the connection between athletes, spectators and Asia’s diverse cultures.

The organisers focused their presentations on people, movement and local cultural identity, rather than relying primarily on modern technology.

The official opening ceremony began at 6:00 pm local time, with more than 35,000 spectators attending the event.

Following the raising of the Japanese flag and the playing of the Japanese national anthem, the participating delegations entered the stadium in alphabetical order. The Omani delegation entered 27th, with the national flag carried by shooting team athlete Butti bin Hamid Al Shibli.

The Japanese delegation entered last in accordance with Asian Games protocol, preceded by the refugee team.

Following the entry of the delegations, the representative of Nagoya delivered a welcome address, while Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, welcomed the Emperor of Japan and other attendees and highlighted the importance of continued sports development across Asia and the promotion of unity and sporting success.

His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said said Oman’s participation in the Games represents an important milestone for Omani sport and provides athletes and technical and administrative teams with opportunities to benefit from continental-level competition, engage with different Asian sporting schools and gain experience that can support their sporting careers.

He added that the Asian Games, which bring together athletes from across the continent, demonstrate the role of sport in strengthening communication and understanding among peoples while contributing to the development of athletes and sports professionals.

His Highness explained that Oman is participating in the Games in 10 sports, reflecting the diversity of the country’s representation and providing athletes with opportunities to compete, experience different preparation and competition methods and gain valuable experience for future events.

He noted that the Oman Olympic Committee had completed the requirements for participation and worked to create appropriate conditions for the delegation and national teams, stressing that coordination and cooperation among the relevant bodies are important in supporting athletes during major sporting events.

His Highness wished the members of Oman’s national teams success and expressed hope that they would give their best and represent Oman through commitment, discipline and sportsmanship while benefiting from their experiences at the Games and their interaction with athletes from other countries.