The 20th Asian Games came to an end on Sunday with a spectacular 90-minute light and musical show at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, bringing the curtains down on the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
A dazzling farewell
The closing ceremony featured a vibrant display of Japanese culture and hospitality, built around the concept of 'One Asia'. A hexagonal stage at the centre of the stadium, adorned with lanterns — a quintessential symbol of Japanese summer — was the highlight of the show, as athletes from all 45 participating nations joined the festive atmosphere.
Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed in the presence of Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino. The OCA flag was then handed over to the organising committee of the 2030 Asian Games in Qatar, with high-jumper Mutaz Barshim featuring in the handover segment.
Records tumble
The Games produced more than 350 records, including at least 50 world records, across more than two weeks of competition — a record-setting edition despite the logistical troubles and mismanagement that marred the build-up.
China topped the medal table for the 12th consecutive edition with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze medals — 341 in all, its best haul at an overseas Asian Games. Hosts Japan finished second with 269 medals (83 gold, 95 silver, 91 bronze), followed by South Korea with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze.
India finishes fourth
India ended fourth on the medal table with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — 21 fewer than the 106-medal haul at Hangzhou. Trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, with two gold medals and one silver, led India's charts. Around 30 Indian athletes and officials in white and blue kits took part in the Athletes Parade, waving the tricolour.
OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam hailed the Games as a successful model of sustainability and financial viability, noting that the organising committee carried no big financial burden and left "no white elephant" behind in Nagoya.
Sources:
PTI via ThePrint — Dazzling light and musical show brings curtains down on Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
DD India — Dazzling light and musical show brings curtains down on Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
A dazzling farewell
The closing ceremony featured a vibrant display of Japanese culture and hospitality, built around the concept of 'One Asia'. A hexagonal stage at the centre of the stadium, adorned with lanterns — a quintessential symbol of Japanese summer — was the highlight of the show, as athletes from all 45 participating nations joined the festive atmosphere.
Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed in the presence of Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino. The OCA flag was then handed over to the organising committee of the 2030 Asian Games in Qatar, with high-jumper Mutaz Barshim featuring in the handover segment.
Records tumble
The Games produced more than 350 records, including at least 50 world records, across more than two weeks of competition — a record-setting edition despite the logistical troubles and mismanagement that marred the build-up.
China topped the medal table for the 12th consecutive edition with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze medals — 341 in all, its best haul at an overseas Asian Games. Hosts Japan finished second with 269 medals (83 gold, 95 silver, 91 bronze), followed by South Korea with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze.
India finishes fourth
India ended fourth on the medal table with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — 21 fewer than the 106-medal haul at Hangzhou. Trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, with two gold medals and one silver, led India's charts. Around 30 Indian athletes and officials in white and blue kits took part in the Athletes Parade, waving the tricolour.
OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam hailed the Games as a successful model of sustainability and financial viability, noting that the organising committee carried no big financial burden and left "no white elephant" behind in Nagoya.
Sources:
PTI via ThePrint — Dazzling light and musical show brings curtains down on Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
DD India — Dazzling light and musical show brings curtains down on Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
