The Sports Ministry has announced stringent new selection criteria for athletes to participate in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. Only athletes with a “real chance of winning medals” will be considered for inclusion in multidisciplinary sports, it said. Those who are ranked in the top six for individual sports and the top eight for team events will be eligible for nomination by national federations, it added. The ministry also bars the inclusion of additional coaches or support staff, a recurring issue during past selection cycles.
The Games, which run from September 19 to October 4, are expected to draw more than a million visitors. Japan’s sports culture, especially baseball and three-on-three basketball, will be showcased to attract foreign fans.
Unlike the Olympics, which are limited to a set number of venues in a single city, the Asian Games spread out over a wider region. The organisers have been working hard to make the competition accessible for spectators with a focus on regional sports like sepak takraw and kabaddi, while maintaining a traditional Olympic feel in the athletics arenas.
Esports will also feature following its success at the Hangzhou games, when India won four medals, including a bronze in eFootball and a gold in PUBG.
Hosting the Asian Games provides a host country with an opportunity to drive economic growth and boost tourism through increased visibility on an international stage. It also strengthens the ties between Asia and other nations by encouraging increased exchange.