PHOTOS Baton passes to Qatar: The road to 2030 Asian Games begins
Qatari equestrian Jassim Al Kuwari carries the Olympic Council of Asia flag during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The national flag of Qatar is displayed during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Qatari high jump legend and Olympic gold medalist Mutaz Barshim carries the Olympic Council of Asia flag during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani holds the torch of the first-ever Asian Games during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Qatari equestrian Jassim Al Kuwari carries the Olympic Council of Asia flag during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The flame of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is extinguished during a closing ceremony at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Performers take the stage during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yun
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
South Korean athletes enjoy the festivities during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
North Korean athletes attend the closing ceremony at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Dancers perform with Asian Games mascot Honohon during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closing ceremony concludes with a massive fireworks display over Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, Oct. 4. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yun