The Asian Games are open with more athletes than the Summer Olympics and some unfamiliar sports
Summary
The Asian Games opened in Nagoya with more than 11,000 athletes, a larger field than the Paris Summer Olympics, and a packed schedule that began competition before the official ceremony. The event features Olympic staples alongside Asian specialties such as kurash, kabaddi, and sepaktakraw, plus newer additions like mixed martial arts, padel, teqball, and esports.
Key Points
- The Asian Games opened in Nagoya with at least 11,000 athletes competing across 43 sports, outnumbering the Paris Summer Olympics field.
- Competition began before the official opening ceremony because of the packed schedule, with basketball and soccer already underway.
- The program includes Olympic staples as well as Asian specialties such as kurash, kabaddi, and sepaktakraw, along with mixed martial arts, padel, teqball and esports.
- The opening ceremony featured Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, while the leadup was marked by controversies over athlete housing and a national anthem mix-up.
