Sanya, China, April 19, 2026: The 6th Asian Beach Games will have a special guest calling in soon – former IOC President Thomas Bach.
Team leaders gathered at the second Chefs de Mission meeting on Sunday morning were informed that Bach will be visiting the Athletes Village on Tuesday, April 21 – the day before the opening ceremony.
The German sports leader and Olympic fencing champion, who is now Hon. Life President of the IOC, will be meeting with athletes at 4.30pm and chatting about their experiences.
“We warmly welcome all athletes from the National Olympic Committees to come here and meet with the Honorary Life President of the IOC,” the organising committee SABGOC announced.
Bach, who was succeeded as IOC President by Kirsty Coventry, is always keen to hear the views of athletes. One of his legacies as President is to make the athletes an important part of decision-making throughout the Olympic movement, and his visit to Sanya will build on this.
The second CDM meeting covered sports, NOC Services, medical services and in particular the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games on Wednesday, April 22.
SABGOC informed the delegates that the ceremony would start at 8pm at Sanya Asian Beach Games Park and would last 75 minutes – 48 minutes for the ceremony protocol and 27 minutes for the cultural performance.
Organisers stressed that waiting time for athletes would be kept to a minimum, with departure time from the Athletes Village ranging from 6.04pm for the first group and 6.24pm for the third and final group. They will begin to line up for the parade at 7.20pm, with the parade starting at 8.05pm. Athletes will leave the stadium at around 9.30pm.
There will be a full-scale rehearsal for the opening ceremony on Monday, April 20.
The Deputy Director General of the OCA, Mr. Vinod Kumar Tiwari, reminded all team leaders that athletes must not display any banners or other propaganda, and that anyone doing so would have their accreditation removed and dismissed from the Athletes’ Village. Only the national flag is allowed during a victory ceremony.
Delegates heard that 34 NOCs had submitted the names of their female and male flagbearers for the opening ceremony, 22 had submitted the name of the Prevention of Manipulation of Competition (PMC) officer and 23 had provided the name of the safeguarding officer.
The next CDM meeting will be on April 21 to finalise all aspects of the opening ceremony as well as other issues that may arise.