Nagoya, Japan, September 19, 2026: The President of the Olympic Council of Asia, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, joined the torch relay celebrations for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya on Friday, September 18.
The OCA President took part in the final leg of the Asian Games torch relay at Hisaya-odori Park alongside OCA Vice Presidents, National Olympic Committee representatives and leading sports figures.
The torch relay began at Nagoya Castle on August 22 and passed through all 40 municipalities of Aichi Prefecture and 16 wards of Nagoya City with 1,000 torchbearers. It will culminate with the lighting of the Asian Games cauldron during the opening ceremony at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Saturday, September 19.
Other relay runners on Friday included the OCA Director General, Mr. Husain Al Musallam, Olympic Council of Malaysia President and OCA Vice President for Southeast Asia Dr. Norza Zakaria, Kuwait Olympic Committee President and OCA Vice President for West Asia, Sheikh Fahad Nasser Al Sabah, OCA Vice President for Central Asia Otabek Umarov and OCM Vice President and Malaysia’s Chef de Mission, Mohd Sumali Reduan.
