Crisp end to chaotic Games

Nagoya: Centered around athletes and their many triumphs and heartbreaks over the past 16 days, a crisp 90-minute celebration unfolded before the 20th Asian Games was declared closed at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium here on Sunday.With crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko in attendance, a splash of Japanese tradition, music and colour enthralled the audience, who appeared to have turned up in greater numbers than for the opening ceremony on September 19.But the highlight of the closing ceremony, which began under the threat of rain, was the glimpse of what awaits in Doha, the next host city, as Qatar received the Asian Games flag.Riding into the real world of the stadium from the virtual world displayed on the giant screens was Qatari equestrian rider Jassim Al Kuwari, astride Red Raiden. Galloping along the long white ramp towards the centre, Al Kuwari was handed the Asian Games flag by his fellow countryman Mutaz Barshim, the Olympic high jump champion. Both athletes were dressed in traditional Qatari thobes.Qatar’s equestrian Jassim Al Kuwari rides with the Olympic Council of Asia flag with the Gulf nation scheduled to host the Asian Games in 2030. PTI As the culture, people and places of what awaits in Doha flashed across the digital screens, Al Kuwari and Red Raiden circled the centre before riding away, signalling the beginning of the next four-year Asian Games cycle ahead of the 21st edition in Doha in 2030.Earlier, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), described Aichi-Nagoya as an event that would “shape the next generation of Asian sport” before welcoming the next chapter to his home.Asian Games 2026 close after a fortnight of turmoil and teenage triumph“Tonight, as we lower the flag on Aichi-Nagoya 2026, we close these Games, but we raise the bar for Asian sport,” said the 40-year-old, adding: “Over 350 records have been broken, including more than 50 world records. Forty out of the 45 NOCs achieved medals. This is a record for our Asian Games.”Apart from the sporting achievements, the Games will also be remembered for the multiple hassles encountered by travelling athletes, support staff and officials even before competition got underway. Without a Games Village, and with the venues for each sport spread across the city and beyond, the organisers faced not only logistical challenges but also the ire of contingents for long travel times and delayed journeys.India’s flag-bearer Neeru Dhanda marches during the closing ceremony. PTINow, all that was in the past as members of the participating countries walked out one last time to bid goodbye. For India, it was trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, who finished with two golds and a silver, leading the charge alongside around 30 athletes and officials in the athletes’ parade.And even if the quiet land of the three samurai – Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu – who unified Japan, did not collectively come out in numbers to celebrate sport to the extent it was expected to, the Games will remain special for everyone involved, each for reasons of their own.So, it’s arigatou gozaimasu.

Source: Deccan Herald