All You Know About Asian Games 2026

The Asian Games are the oldest and most prestigious event on the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) calendar, dating back to the inaugural edition in 1951. The Asian Games is a multi-disciplinary sports event held once in every four years. Athletes from all Asian countries are welcome to participate in this event.

The Asian Games is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and is the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympics. Asian Games 2023, scheduled for 2022 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of the most awaited sporting events of the year.

Asian Games 2023 Information Highlights

What is 'Asian Games'?

After the Second World War, many Asian countries gained independence and Guru Dutt Sondhi, a member of the Indian International Olympic Committee, proposed the idea of Asian Games as a sporting event, where all Asian nations can be represented. The first-ever Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951. Asian Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from 1951 to 1978.

Since 1982, Olympic Council of Asia now regulated the Asian Games. The symbol for Asian Games is the rising sun with interlocking rings. Nine nations have hosted the Asian Games so far and 46 nations have participated in the games. Israel has not taken part in Asian Games since 1974. 44 sports have been included in the Asian Games history. Since 2010, the host has conducted both the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games, the latter an event for athletes with disabilities.

India is a founding member of Asian Games and also the host of the first Asian Games. The 1982 Asian Games were also held in New Delhi. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognises the Games, considered the second-largest multi-sport event in the world after the Olympic Games.

India at Asian Games: Medals by Each Edition

Asain Games Sports

Athletes from 11 nations participated in the inaugural games, which featured six sports (association football, athletics, basketball, cycling, swimming, and weight lifting). Forty-one nations were represented in the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, where events in 38 sports were contested.

Hangzhou, China, is set to host the 19th edition of the quadrennial event this year from September 23 to October 8. The next and 20th Games in 2026 will be held in Japan in Aichi-Nagoya (19 September-4 October) followed by a Middle Eastern swing through Doha in 2030 and Riyadh in 2034.

List of Asian Game

Hosts of Asian Games