Barca Legend Puyol and Swimming Star Marchand to Visit Nagoya Asian Games

World-renowned sports stars are set to visit the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced today (September 11) that Léon Marchand, a four-time gold medalist in swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympics (24, France), and Carles Puyol (48), the legendary Spanish football defender, will visit Nagoya, Japan, during the Asian Games to participate in various events.

Marchand, who emerged as a symbol of French sports through the Paris Olympics, will visit Nagoya ahead of the opening of the Asian Games.

He is scheduled to hold a 30-minute swimming clinic for local elementary school students at the Higashi Sports Center in Nagoya on the 18th, interacting with rising prospects.

At the Paris Olympics, Marchand swept four gold medals by setting Olympic records in the 200m and 400m individual medley, as well as the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly, which were held on the same day.

He also added a bronze medal in the men's 400m medley relay and drew global attention by carrying the Olympic torch at the closing ceremony.

He has also captured a total of seven gold medals and two silver medals at the World Aquatics Championships, and is currently the top active swimming star holding the world records in the 200m and 400m individual medley.


Puyol, a legendary defender who served as captain for the Spanish national team and FC Barcelona, will visit Nagoya to promote teqball, which has been adopted as an official sport for the first time at this tournament.

During his active career, playing exclusively for Barcelona, he lifted 18 major championship trophies, including six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles.

As a member of the Spanish national team, he also made 100 international appearances, leading the squad to victory at Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Puyol is scheduled to arrive in Nagoya on the morning of the 19th, attend an OCA reception in the afternoon, and then participate in the Asian Games opening ceremony held at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya in the evening.

He then plans to meet social media influencers and visit the athletes' village on the 20th.

Later that afternoon, he will visit a local school to enjoy football and teqball with students, and hold an official press conference at the Higashi Sports Center in Nagoya, where the finals for the five teqball events will take place.

Following this, he will personally serve as a medal presenter for the teqball events alongside Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Vice President of the OCA.

After finishing his official schedule, Puyol is scheduled to travel to Tokyo on the 21st alongside International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Kirsty Coventry to watch the swimming finals at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.