The 20th Asian Games will commence on September 10 in Nagoya and the surrounding Aichi region of Japan, with beIN SPORTS set to provide extensive coverage of the event across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The broadcaster plans to deliver over 1,700 hours of live programming across 16 channels during the 25-day multi-sport competition, which officially runs from September 19 to October 4.
The Games will feature approximately 10,000 athletes competing in 461 events spanning 43 sports. Competition will begin nine days prior to the official opening ceremony, highlighting a mix of traditional sports such as athletics, swimming, and gymnastics, alongside the debut of five new disciplines: padel, mixed martial arts, surfing, freestyle BMX, and teqball.
Mohammed Al Bader, Managing Director of beIN Channels – MENA, emphasized the significance of the Games as Asia's largest sporting event. He reaffirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to delivering comprehensive coverage with a spotlight on the participation of over 1,000 athletes from 12 Arab nations. Coverage will start on September 10 with select live games featuring Arab teams available free-to-air and will build up to the opening ceremony on September 19.
From September 20 onwards, beIN SPORTS will broadcast up to 100 hours of live competition daily across its various channels, including beIN SPORTS 1-9, beIN SPORTS XTRA, and beIN SPORTS English 1 and 2. Complementing the live action, a daily multi-sports studio program will air from 09:00 to 15:00 Mecca time, accessible without subscription on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS NEWS.
On-site reporting will be provided by four correspondents based in Aichi-Nagoya, offering closer insights into the events and athlete performances. Additional programming includes an hour-long daily highlights show and a comprehensive feature-length review following the conclusion of the Games. Supplementary content will include documentaries on past Asian Games, athlete profiles focusing on Arab participants, archival features, and educational segments explaining various Asian sports rules and formats.
The closing ceremony on October 4 will mark the transition of hosting duties from Japan to Qatar, which will host the next Asian Games in 2030, returning to Doha for the first time since 2006. beIN plans special programming related to Qatar’s previous hosting experience and preparations for the upcoming event.
To enhance fan engagement, beIN’s digital platforms will offer an exclusive Asian Games category on their official website and mobile app. Content such as daily updates, short videos, interactive stories, and timely alerts about key sports results, Arab medalists, and breaking news will be accessible across multiple social media channels, ensuring audiences stay informed throughout the duration of the Games.