Asian Games 2026: OCA directs federations including India to not seek late additions to contingent

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), on Wednesday, sent an advisory, asking the National Olympic Associations, including India to not ask for late additions to their contingent size for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

This comes after Japan expressed its inability to accommodate more than 15,000 participants overall at the quadrennial Games.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had cleared 492 athletes to represent India at the Asian Games, which will be held from 19 September to 4 October, 2026.

The Ministry is yet to reveal the total number of support staff which will travel with the athletes to the Games.

The OCA also noted that it had already accommodated several "daily requests" from a number of member nations to allow late additions to the athletes' contingent despite the deadline for nominations ending last month.

As per the existing rule, the size of support staff can't be more than 33% of the contingent size, which means India can send a maximum of 162 support staff, including coaches.

"The support staff is still being worked out because some federations have not named any sports science experts in their recommendations. The list has been sent back to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and it will take a few more days. But yes, an advisory has also come which mandates that the contingent sizes not exceed the prescribed limit," a Sports Authority of India (SAI) source said.

"The cap on support staff cannot be exceeded and though federations would want several to go with even small squads, they have been asked to cut the numbers and ensure that there is adequate medical staff to assist athletes," the source added.

After the OCA admitted that the current number of athletes and officials "significantly" exceeds the 15,000 mark, the organisers publicly expressed their inability to handle more than the originally envisioned number.

India will participate in 35 disciplines with athletics getting the largest representation of 73 in the contingent.

Keen to ensure that the Games are sustainable, the organisers have decided against creating a traditional Games Village and have made lodging arrangements in container-style huts and a cruise ship that will docked at Nagoya port.

While the ship is expected to accommodate nearly 5000 athletes, another 2400 would be lodged at container huts. The organisers plan to use these facilities as disaster shelters after the Games.