IOC President Coventry attends Asian Games during Japan visit
IOC President Kirsty Coventry travelled to Nagoya, Japan, to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. President Coventry watched the spectacular ceremony alongside His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, together with many Olympic Movement representatives, including Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia.
Key facts
- IOC President Coventry attended the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya and met athletes.
- She praised Japan’s role as a world-class sporting host.
- President Coventry also travelled to Tokyo, where she visited the Tokyo Aquatics Centre and presented the medals for the men’s 50m backstroke.
During her visit to Nagoya, President Coventry met some of the athletes competing at the Asian Games while touring the athletes’ village. She answered a wide variety of questions during a Q&A session. Athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are participating in these Games, which feature 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 medal events.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), President Coventry praised four-time Olympic host Japan. “Japan has shown time and again that it knows how to organise world-class sporting events. You do it with excellence. And you do it with great warmth and hospitality. We see this again with these Asian Games. And Japan’s role as a world-class sporting host will continue. In 2028, Tokyo will host the first stop of the Olympic Q-Series on the road to LA28,” she said.
President Coventry also travelled to Tokyo, where she visited the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, the swimming venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and also the venue for the swimming and diving competitions during the Asian Games. The IOC President watched an evening session of swimming and presented the medals at the ceremony for the men’s 50m backstroke.
The President was given a tour of the venue, meeting athletes on the pool deck, and remarked how happy she was to see the venue full of spectators after the COVID-19 restrictions during the Tokyo 2020 Games.