The Asian Games, first held in 1951, is Asia’s biggest sports competition. The event was advocated by India’s first Prime Minister, Nehru, to re-establish bonds of friendship through sport and contribute to world peace. Since the first Games in New Delhi, the Asian Games have grown into a multi-sports competition spanning 41 events and 45 participating nations and territories. The upcoming edition in Aichi and Nagoya will feature both Olympic and regional disciplines, including unique Asian sports such as kabaddi and sepak takraw, alongside global Olympic sports like athletics and swimming.
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will include 11 medal-contending esports titles, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed. The Games’ organisers have selected a combination of popular titles and those with a strong track record of attracting viewership engagement. The inclusion of eFootball and Konami’s TEKKEN also reflect Japan’s growing gaming ecosystem and align with the OCA’s strategic focus on market development and broadcast optimization. On the other hand, Dota 2’s exclusion signals a calculated decision to streamline production and ensure adherence to stringent broadcasting requirements of high-stakes international sporting events.
The OCA’s decision also comes at a time when cricket and mixed martial arts are set to make their return to the Olympic fold for the first time in more than a century. Both sports will be featured at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with cricket set to be contested as an outdoor game and MMA being classed as a combat sport alongside kurash and jujitsu.