Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 8, 2025: Golden beaches, soaring kites, and hundreds of schoolchildren all combined to create a picture postcard perfect setting for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games Fun Run in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Monday, September 8.
The setting sun on the beach at Mount Lavinia – just outside the capital Colombo – provided a stunning backdrop to a colourful pageant filled with dancing by cultural troupes and demonstrations of kabaddi and kite-surfing as the Aichi-Nagoya promotional campaign notched its eighth Asian stopover.
It was the first one for Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al Musallam, who was garlanded with a string of sea shells as he arrived for the Fun Run accompanied by National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka President Suresh Subramaniam.
“I thank the Sri Lanka NOC and the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting this Asian Games Fun Run. I thank all the participants, especially the youth for turning up and I thank you for your support,” Al Musallam said in his address to the crowd.
Among the dignitaries present was the Minister of Sport Sunil Kumara Gamage, and officials from the Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka.
Schoolchildren from 15 schools participated in a 2km Fun Run – a part of the OCA’s ‘Asian Games for All’ promotional campaign carried out with the Organising Committee of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (AINAGOC).
“This will not end here today. We will follow this up and ask the children when they get back to school to write an essay on what they experienced today. This event will raise the awareness of the Asian Games among them and hopefully inspire them to become an athlete,” said Lal Wickrematunge, General Manager of Sri Lanka NOC.
Children from five schools then took part in an obstacle race, raucously cheered on by their schoolmates, before a troupe from the Sri Lanka Air Force Performing Arts gave a song and dance act depicting traditional fisher-folk bringing in the day’s catch.
Sri Lanka NOC President Subramaniam summed it all up when he praised his team for a job well done in creating a memorable Fun Run.
“I’m proud of my team for the super job they have done in organising this delightful Fun Run. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and support of the OCA,” Subramaniam noted.
