Asian Games flame-lighting ceremonies to start in Tokyo
The first of three flame-lighting ceremonies ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya took place on 18 August.
Under the slogan “A Uniting Flame for All”, the torch was lit in front of the cauldron from the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo.
The second of the two symbolic locations will be Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on 20 August, at the Flame of Peace. Hiroshima was the second Japanese city to host the Asian Games in 1994.
The flames lit at these two locations will then be brought together at the Torch Lighting Ceremony at Nagoya Castle on 22 August.
From there, the flame will begin its journey on the Torch Relay through 40 municipalities in Aichi Prefecture. This will incorporate a schools’ relay in 14 schools from 7-15 September.
The relay will end on 18 September – one day before the opening ceremony during which the Asian Games cauldron will be lit to mark the official opening of the 20th Asian Games.
“Carrying with it the spirit of history, hopes for peace and aspirations for Asia’s future, the torch will mark the beginning of the countdown to the opening of Aichi-Nagoya 2026,” organising committee AINAGOC said.
AINAGOC also announced that applications for public viewing of the 22 August Torch Lighting Ceremony at Nagoya Castle have now closed.
