Nagoya, Japan: 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, hospitality and Qatar’s journey towards hosting the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.
Held at the Qatar delegation headquarters at the TIAD Hotel in Nagoya, the event brought together representatives from National Olympic Committees, sporting organisations and delegations participating in the Games, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections across the Asian sporting community.
The reception was held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Member of Board Of Directors of the QOC and with the attendance of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). In her remarks, H.E. Sheikha Hind reflected on Qatar’s experience as a host and the shared values of hospitality and connection that bring communities together through sport.
A short film was also screened during the evening, highlighting the journey from Doha 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 culture and hospitality through a menu created by prominent Qatari chef, restaurateur and cultural ambassador Noof Al Marri. The menu offered guests an authentic expression of Qatari cuisine, highlighting the country’s culinary heritage and contemporary gastronomic excellence.
Adding to the evening’s cultural programme, guests were treated to a live Oud performance, bringing another element of Qatari musical 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 its interactive cultural and digital activations and explored Qatar’s sporting journey from the Doha 2006 Asian Games towards Doha 2030.
On this occasion, the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain, said:
“This 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 our communities. From Doha 2006 through Aichi-Nagoya 2026, Qatar’s journey with the Asian Games has been shaped by the athletes, sporting organisations and people who have shared this journey with us.
“Bringing a piece of Qatar to Nagoya through Bayt Qatar has allowed us to share our culture, hospitality and sporting experience with our Asian family. The evening also provided a meaningful moment to reflect on that journey and look ahead to Doha 2030, when we will have the privilege of welcoming Asia back to Qatar.”
For her part, Sheikha Asma Al Thani, QOC’s Director of Marketing and International Cooperation, said:
“The Asian Games hold a special place in Qatar’s sporting journey. Twenty years ago, Doha welcomed Asia for the 2006 Asian Games, and today we are together again in Aichi-Nagoya. In four years the Games will return to Doha, continuing a connection that has brought athletes, sporting leaders and communities from across Asia together through sport.
“Bayt Qatar was created to bring a piece of that journey to Aichi-Nagoya. It is more than a place to learn about Qatar – it is a place to experience our culture, hospitality and sporting story, and to create connections with the people who have joined us here in Japan. The Asian Games are about much more than competition; they are about the shared experiences, friendships and connections that remain long after the competition ends.
“Bayt Qatar is open to everyone throughout the Games, and we are delighted to welcome the public and local communities to come and experience Qatar for themselves, discover our culture and share in the journey towards Doha 2030.”
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 provides an opportunity to engage with athletes, delegations, partners and sporting organisations from across Asia and to share the culture, hospitality and experience that will help shape the next chapter of the Asian Games journey.
Bayt Qatar, which is open throughout the Games, forms part of this engagement, offering visitors a place to discover Qatari culture and heritage while learning about the development of sport in Qatar and the country’s preparations to welcome Asia again in 2030.
