Tokyo, September 21 (QNA) - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) hosted its official reception at the 20th Asian Games - Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Monday, bringing together around 100 guests from across the Asian Olympic movement for an evening celebrating sport, culture and Qatari hospitality, with the attendance of the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Held at the Qatar delegation headquarters in Nagoya, the reception took place under the patronage of HE Member of the Board of Directors of the QOC Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, and brought together representatives from National Olympic Committees, sporting organizations and delegations participating in the Games.

The reception highlighted Qatar’s journey in hosting sporting events and its aspirations towards hosting the Asian Games in Doha in 2030, while also showcasing Qatari culture and the country’s sporting heritage.

In her remarks, HE Sheikha Hind reflected on Qatar's experience as a host and emphasized the values of hospitality and the role of sport in bringing communities closer together and strengthening connections between them.

A short film was also screened during the evening, highlighting Qatar's journey with the Asian Games, from Doha's hosting of the Games in 2006 through Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and towards Doha 2030, placing athletes, spectators and the wider sporting community at the heart of Qatar’s hosting story.

The dinner showcased Qatari cuisine, while a live Oud performance brought another element of Qatari culture and heritage to the reception.

Before the dinner, guests were welcomed at Bayt Qatar, the House of Qatar in Nagoya, where they experienced a selection of interactive cultural and digital activations and explored Qatar's sporting journey from the Doha 2006 Asian Games towards Doha 2030.

For his part, HE the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said the reception was a wonderful opportunity to come together with friends and partners from across the Asian Olympic movement and celebrate the strong connections that sport has created between communities.

He added that, from Doha 2006 through Aichi-Nagoya 2026, Qatar's journey with the Asian Games had been shaped by the athletes, sporting organisations and people who had shared this journey.

He noted that bringing a piece of Qatar to Nagoya through Bayt Qatar had allowed Qatar to share its culture, hospitality and sporting experience with its Asian family. The evening also provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on that journey and look ahead to Doha 2030, when Qatar will have the privilege of welcoming Asia once again.

For her part, QOC's Director of Marketing and International Cooperation Sheikha Asma Al-Thani said the Asian Games held a special place in Qatar's sporting journey.

Doha welcomed Asia for the 2006 Asian Games, and today the continent was together again in Aichi-Nagoya, with the Games set to return to Doha in four years.

She added that this journey reflected what the Asian Games represented as an opportunity to bring together athletes and sporting leaders from across the continent and strengthen connections between the different countries of Asia.

She noted that Bayt Qatar at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 showcased part of this journey. It was more than a place to learn about Qatar, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the country’s culture and sporting heritage firsthand and serving as a place to create connections with guests attending the Games in Japan.

She stressed that the Asian Games were about much more than competition and results, as they also helped strengthen relationships and build friendships that remained long after the Games ended.

She noted that Bayt Qatar was open to everyone throughout the Games, offering the public and local communities an opportunity to experience Qatar, discover its culture and sporting journey, and share in the journey towards the Doha 2030 Asian Games.

Qatar's participation in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 marks another chapter in the country’s longstanding relationship with the Asian Games. Following Doha's hosting of the Games in 2006, Qatar has continued to develop its sporting infrastructure, expertise and experience through the hosting of major international events, while strengthening its connections with the wider Asian sporting community.

As preparations continue for Doha 2030, Qatar’s presence in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 provides an opportunity to engage with athletes, delegations, partners and sporting organisations from across Asia and to share Qatari culture and hospitality, as well as the experience the country has gained in organising and hosting major sporting events.

Bayt Qatar, which is open throughout the Games, forms part of this engagement, offering visitors a place to discover Qatari culture and heritage, learn about the development of sport in Qatar, and explore the country’s preparations to welcome Asia again in 2030. (QNA)