Asian Games: Bigger than Olympics, young stars and a cruise ship

NAGOYA, Japan — The 20th Asian Games open in Japan on Saturday bringing together a bumper 17,000 athletes and officials, among them Olympic and world champions.

Here's a guide to Asia's biggest sporting spectacle.

The Games mainly take place in the port city of Nagoya and the wider Aichi prefecture.

Nagoya has more than two million residents and is the fourth biggest city in Japan by population. It was flattened in World War II.

The Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000, will be the main venue including hosting athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Swimming — one of the most closely watched events — is 350 kilometers east in the capital Tokyo.

The Games, which take place every four years, finish on October 4.

Athletes will compete in 43 sports across the two weeks.

Aside from athletics and swimming, the other major draws will be badminton, boxing, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics, table tennis, tennis and weightlifting.

In a bid to attract younger viewers there will be eSports, break dancing and BMX biking.

Padel, the fast-growing racquet sport, MMA and teqball make their Asian Games debuts.

Then there are more obscure regional sports including the combat sport kurash, kabbadi and wushu. There is also virtual taekwondo.

The Asian Games are bigger than the Olympics in numbers, with more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials.

There will be 45 countries and territories competing.

At the previous Games in 2023 — held a year late because of the pandemic — hosts China comfortably topped the medals table ahead of Japan, South Korea, India and Uzbekistan.

Iran and North Korea were also in the top 10. At the bottom end of the table came Syria and Palestine.

There will be Lin Yu-ting, the Taiwanese boxer whose run to gold at the Paris Olympics ignited a major gender controversy.

Of the rising stars there is supremely talented 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Even younger than him is Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi, who won a world championships medal aged 12 last year.

Alexandra Eala, the rising 21-year-old tennis star from the Philippines, will be another hunting gold, as will Pakistan's Paris Olympics javelin champion Arshad Nadeem.

In eSports South Korea's formidable team is led by Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, one of the biggest names in competitive gaming.

Japan has not built a dedicated athletes' village in a bid to reduce costs, so some competitors will stay in hotels.

Others will be housed on a cruise liner docked in Nagoya's port, with temporary wooden cabins also used.

Organizers are confident the ship in particular will make for a memorable experience — but will be hoping the weather behaves itself or those on board might be in for a choppy time.

September-October is typhoon season in Japan.

The vessel, the Costa Serena, can house about 4,000 people and is the twin ship of the infamous Costa Concordia.

That vessel sank off Tuscany in 2012, killing 32 people.

abtestabtest Absence of naturalized players in Gilas' Asian Games roster questioned in Senate By Ian Laqui | 5 hours ago In a Senate Session on Monday, September 15, lawmakers questioned the status and availability of naturalized players for the... Sports Race to playoffs heats up as MPL PH reaches midway point By Michelle Lojo | 9 hours ago The race for playoff positioning intensified in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season... Sports Nnoruka, UP begin post-'Maroon5' era with win over UST By Ralph Edwin Villanueva | 2 days ago The new-look University of the Philippines heralded the new era with a win, slaying the University of Santo Tomas Growling... Sports Boom Esports takes top spot in PKL Fall 2026 By Michelle Lojo | 9 hours ago Boom Esports emerged as the new pace-setter of the Philippines Kings League (PKL) Fall 2026 after completing an unbeaten Week... Sports Xavi8k reflects on difficult first year in VCT Pacific, GE's championship breakthrough By Michelle Lojo | 8 hours ago For Xavier "xavi8k" Juan, Global Esports' VCT Pacific Stage 2 championship was the payoff for years of believing... Sports Latest More in Sports Strong Group opens checkbook for national cage team Van Sickle back in practice for Nxled PSC assures 'all-out support' to Eala as WTA sanction looms due to Asiad stint Asian Games set for liftoff, but will everyone have a bed? abtest Pickleball star preaches health, discipline 9 hours ago The world’s top pickleball player underscored the importance of health, driving the key message as her sport continues... Sports Home Credit PH renews partnership with UST Tigers and Tigresses for UAAP Season 9 hours ago Home Credit continues to invest in initiatives that inspire young people to dream bigger, work harder and build brighter... Sports Ardina finishes strong, ties for 12th in Guardian Championship By Jan Veran | 10 hours ago Dottie Ardina closed the suspended final round in style, birdieing three of her last seven holes to card a 68 and tie for... Sports Hyrox apologizes for allowing race to continue after athlete soils herself 10 hours ago The Hyrox athletics franchise has apologized for allowing an athlete to complete an event in Beijing despite soiling herself... Sports Recommended Marcos on Sara tirades: You can’t force anyone to love you 21 hours ago  Not even the most powerful man in the land can demand affection. SportsFERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.SARA DUTERTE Senate OKs 5-year barangay, SK term bill 21 hours ago The Senate yesterday passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to fix the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan... SportsBSKESENATE Ex-justice: VP may be removed for hiding assets 21 hours ago Impeachable officials like Vice President Sara Duterte may be removed from office for “intentional concealment”... SportsSARA DUTERTE Defense questions ex-Sandigan presiding justice as witness 21 hours ago The defense panel has questioned the decision of the prosecution to present retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo... SportsSANDIGANBAYAN Sara Duterte trial recap, Sept. 14: Law lecture on unexplained wealth, politics on cross 1 day ago Three key moments and discussions from Day 24, September 14 of Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. SportsINDAY SARA DUTERTESARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENTSENATE next Recommended Marcos on Sara tirades: You can’t force anyone to love you  Not even the most powerful man in the land can demand affection. 21 hours ago FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR. SARA DUTERTE Senate OKs 5-year barangay, SK term bill The Senate yesterday passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to fix the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials at five years, effectively postponing the upcoming Nov. 2 barangay and SK elections. 21 hours ago BSKE SENATE Ex-justice: VP may be removed for hiding assets Impeachable officials like Vice President Sara Duterte may be removed from office for “intentional concealment” of assets including those owned by their spouses, according to retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang. 21 hours ago SARA DUTERTE Defense questions ex-Sandigan presiding justice as witness The defense panel has questioned the decision of the prosecution to present retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang as the Senate impeachment court tackles the article on the alleged unexplained wealth of Vice President Sara Duterte. 21 hours ago SANDIGANBAYAN Sara Duterte trial recap, Sept. 14: Law lecture on unexplained wealth, politics on cross Three key moments and discussions from Day 24, September 14 of Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. 1 day ago INDAY SARA DUTERTE SARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT SENATE OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!