The Asian Games, also known as the Asiad and officially the 20th Asian Games, will be held in the Aichi and Nagoya prefectures in Japan from September 19 to October 4 next year. The event will be co-hosted by the cities of Aichi and Nagoya. This will be the third time Japan has hosted the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. It will also mark the return of the Asian Games to its traditional four-year cycle.
Aichi and Nagoya are very familiar with hosting large-scale events, having done so since the Expo 2005. They are working together to support the Asian Games and ensure that they are a success. This includes cooperation with the Aichi Prefectural Government, various local governments and businesses, and mass media.
Founded in 1951, the Asian Games were first held shortly after World War II to reestablish bonds between Asian countries through sports and contribute to peace in the region. They are the largest regional multi-sport event with 45 participating countries and regions. They are run by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and organized every four years.
The Olympic Council of Asia considers Israel an Asian country based on its membership in the OCA, but it has not competed in the Asian Games since 1974. The OCA also allows Taiwan and Macau to compete under their own names in the Asian Games, despite their lack of full international recognition, because of their geographic location in Asia.