Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games flame lighting ceremony held in Tokyo ahead of the torch relay

Japanese sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu (right) and Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Omura take part in the torch lighting ceremony for the 2026 Asian Games, outside the National Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. About 15,000 competitors and officials are expected at the event, which takes place in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4. -- Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP

TOKYO (Bernama-Kyodo): A flame-lighting ceremony for the upcoming Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games torch relay was held in Tokyo on Tuesday, around a month before the opening of the continental multi-sport event, Kyodo News reported.

Sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu used the flame in the cauldron to light the torch at the capital's National Stadium, also known as MUFG Stadium.

"I will carry the flame entrusted to us and run in a way that can empower the next generation," said Kiryu, a silver medalist in the men's 4x100-meter relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a member of Japan's Asian Games team.

The historic cauldron was previously featured at the 1958 Asian Games and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

(Back L-R) Mayor of Nagoya Ichiro Hirosawa, former Japanese hammer throw athlete Koji Murofushi, President of the Japan Olympic Committee Seiko Hashimoto, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia Tsunekazu Takeda, Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Omura, Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike and Japanese sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu pose during the torch lighting ceremony for the 2026 Asian Games, outside the National Stadium in Tokyo on August 18, 2026. About 15,000 competitors and officials are expected at the event, which takes place in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4. -- Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP

Hideaki Omura, governor of Aichi Prefecture, where many of the events will be held, and Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee and a seven-time Olympian, were among those attending the ceremony.

"We hope to reaffirm Asian unity and peace through sports," said Omura, chief of the Asian Games organising committee.

A similar ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is commemorating the 1945 US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city. Hiroshima hosted the Asian Games in 1994.

The flames are set to be combined in Nagoya, Aichi's capital, on Saturday before the torch relay starts, with three-time Olympic women's wrestling gold medalist Saori Yoshida serving as the first runner.

The relay is scheduled to be carried across Aichi until the Sept 19 opening of the games.

The Asian Games, running through Oct 4, will be held mainly in Nagoya and other cities in Aichi Prefecture. Tokyo, Gifu, Shizuoka and Osaka prefectures will also host some competitions.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO