Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games Close After 7-Day Run

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games have concluded their seven-day run.

The tournament officially came to an end with the closing ceremony held this afternoon (the 24th) at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.

For South Korea, Yoon Ji-yu (Seongnam City Hall), who secured three gold medals by sweeping the women's singles, mixed doubles, and women's doubles in table tennis during this competition, served as the flag bearer and entered holding the Taegeukgi.

Having previously served as a joint flag bearer alongside track and field athlete Jang Min-ho (Anyang City Hall) at the opening ceremony on the 18th, Yoon once again represented the delegation, marking both the beginning and the end of the Games.

Dancers and volunteers formed a pathway to welcome the flag bearers of each National Paralympic Committee, followed by the entry of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) flag.

The concept of the closing ceremony, mirroring the opening ceremony, was "WABI" (We Are Beautiful Individuals).

Rooted in the spirit of Aichi's tea ceremony culture and reinterpreted for modern times, it carried the message of respecting each individual's unique strengths and differences.

The "Uzuzu Dance," performed by the event mascot Uzumin and dancers, was staged as a celebration where athletes and spectators moved in their own ways to honor each other's differences.

In his welcoming address, Aichi Prefectural Governor and Organizing Committee Chairperson Hideaki Omura expressed gratitude to the athletes, officials, and volunteers.

Governor Omura stated that "there is no end to human potential, and continuing to take on challenges is the path to creating a brighter future," adding that the athletes' challenges have provided inspiration and emotion to the entire world.

He further noted, "Even though individual thoughts and actions may seem small, when gathered together, they can become a powerful force capable of changing society."

APC President Majid Rashed encouraged the participants by saying, "For the first time in the history of the Asian Para Games, all 45 National Paralympic Committees participated, with 81 Asian records and 27 world records broken. You are the heart and soul of these Games."

He continued, "Tonight brings the Games to a close, but the dreams ignited by them must live on. We will see you again at the 2030 Doha Asian Para Games."

Lowered from the flagpole, the APC flag was handed over by President Rashed from the Aichi-Nagoya hosts to representatives of the next host city, Doha, Qatar.

The playing of the Qatari national anthem and the hoisting of its national flag followed, signaling the 6th edition of the Games to be held in Doha in 2030.

The subsequent flame extinguishing performance expressed the circulation of fire and water.

Accompanied by performances on the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, and clay instruments, dancers physically portrayed the process of water vapor turning into clouds and rain before returning to the earth.

Amidst only the sound of rain, sand was placed over firewood to extinguish the flame, followed by a presentation connecting the heat used to boil water into tea.

The dance crew "Joyboy," local university student dancers, and mascot Uzumin gathered on the field to applaud in gratitude for the athletes' hard work and to cheer on their new beginnings, shouting "ocha" (the Japanese word for tea).

And thus, the seven-day journey drew to a close.

The Asian Para Games, held in Japan for the first time, brought together about 4,000 participants from 45 National Paralympic Committees to compete across 18 sports.

South Korea, which dispatched 357 delegates (214 athletes and 143 officials) across all events, finished 5th overall by winning a total of 100 medals, including 29 golds, 38 silvers, and 33 bronzes.

This performance surpassed all targets of winning 21 or more gold medals and placing within the top 6 overall.

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.