Nagoya, Japan, January 8, 2024: The Olympic Council of Asia Coordination Committee members held a minute’s silence at the start of the first CC meeting with the organisers of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Monday.
The minute’s silence was proposed by the OCA Director General, Mr. Husain Al-Musallam, after the earthquake in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture on New Year’s Day.
In his welcome message, Mr. Hideaki Ohmura, President of organising committee AINAGOC and Governor of Aichi Prefecture, spoke of the recent disaster.
“As you may be aware, an earthquake hit Japan on January 1st,” said Governor Ohmura.
“I am grateful for the heartfelt message received from the OCA. The disaster area is far from Aichi-Nagoya and we are not impacted by the earthquake, so we have been providing support for the affected area since the disaster happened.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences and sympathy to all those affected and wish for a quick recovery on behalf of all attendees here today.”
Mr. Al-Musallam said the OCA would like to send deepest condolences to the people of Japan and asked the attendees at the CC meeting to observe a minute’s silence.
The Yomiuri Shimbun in Tokyo reported Monday that the death toll in Ishikawa Prefecture from the Noto Peninsular Earthquake had reached 161.