Guide to the 20th Asian Games in Japan

The 20th Asian Games kick off in Japan on Saturday, with a record participation of 17,000 athletes and officials, including Olympic and world champions.

Here's a guide to Asia's biggest sporting event...

The Games are held mainly in the coastal city of Nagoya, and the wider Aichi Prefecture.

Nagoya's population exceeds two million people, and it is the fourth largest city in Japan in terms of population. It was completely destroyed during World War II.

Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000 spectators, will be the main venue for the competitions, hosting the athletics games and the opening and closing ceremonies.

As for swimming, which is one of the most followed sports, it will be held in the capital, Tokyo, located 350 kilometers to the east.

The Games, which are held every 4 years, conclude on October 4.

Athletes will compete in 43 sports over the course of two weeks.

In addition to athletics and swimming, the most prominent competitions include: Badminton, boxing, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics, table tennis, tennis and weightlifting.

In an attempt to attract a younger audience, e-sports, break dancing and BMX racing have been included.

Padel, one of the fastest growing racket sports, mixed martial arts (MMA), and teqball, also make their debut at the Asian Games.

There are also lesser-known regional sports, including kurash, kabaddi, and wushu, in addition to virtual taekwondo.

The Asian Games surpass the Olympics in terms of number of participants, with more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials.

45 countries and territories will compete.

In the previous edition in 2023, which was held a year later due to the pandemic, host China topped the medal table with a comfortable margin ahead of Japan, South Korea, India and Uzbekistan.

Iran and North Korea also ranked among the top ten, while Syria and Palestine ranked at the bottom of the ranking.

Among the participants is Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, whose gold medal at the Paris Olympics ignited a widespread debate about gender identity.

Among the rising stars is 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is considered one of the most promising talents.

He is younger than the talented Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who won a medal at the World Championships last year, when she was 12 years old.

Rising Filipino tennis star Alexandra Ayala (21 years old) is also seeking to win gold, alongside Pakistani Arshad Nadeem, the javelin throw champion at the Paris Olympics.

In eSports, South Korean Lee “Vicker” Sang-hyuk, one of the biggest names in the world of competitive gaming, leads his country’s strong team.

Japan has not built a dedicated sports village for participants in an effort to cut costs, so some athletes will stay in hotels.

Others will stay on board a cruise ship docked in Nagoya Port, while temporary wooden cabins will also be used.

The organizers are confident that the ship in particular will provide an unforgettable experience, but they hope that the weather will be stable, otherwise those on board may face a turbulent journey.

September and October are typhoon season in Japan.

The Costa Serena ship accommodates about 4,000 people, and is the sister ship of the Costa Concordia.

The Costa Concordia sank off the coast of Tuscany in 2012, killing 32 people.