The welcoming ceremony and flag-raising event took place at Fuji Plaza, Garden Pier, in the Port of Nagoya, with the attendance of Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam and head of the Vietnamese sports delegation Nguyen Hong Minh alongside officials and athletes representing the delegation.

The ceremony served as a key official protocol ahead of the opening of ASIAD 20, officially launching the athletic campaign for Vietnamese competitors in Japan.

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong's presence is seen as encouragement for the delegation ahead of a demanding competition schedule. Preparations for the Games, ranging from domestic training camps to their departure for Japan, have received close attention and guidance from the ministry's leadership.

According to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organizing committee, delegation welcoming ceremonies are being held over three days from September 16 to 18, featuring three daily sessions with a maximum of 14 members per delegation.

Head of the delegation Nguyen Hong Minh reported that all athletes are in stable physical condition and fully prepared for competition. A primary challenge for the Vietnamese delegation at ASIAD 20 is the decentralized accommodation across locations, which poses logistical hurdles for management and real-time coordination. Nevertheless, the delegation has proactively implemented contingency plans to adapt to local conditions and ensure optimal preparation for all teams.

The Vietnamese delegation comprising 498 members is participating in ASIAD 20, which runs from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya.

The moment Vietnam's national flag fluttered at the Port of Nagoya marked the official presence of Vietnamese sports at ASIAD 20 and boosted the spirit, confidence, and determination of the athletes as they embark on the largest sports festival on the continent for national pride.

ASIAD 20: Vietnamese sports delegation arrive in Japan for competitions

VOV.VN - The first members of Vietnam’s sports delegation arrived in Japan on September 16 ahead of the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20) and the delegation’s flag-raising ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya on September 18.