NAGOYA, Japan — A diplomatic and protocol dispute emerged at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Friday after Taiwan’s delegation said Sports Minister Lee Yang was prevented from entering a scheduled welcome ceremony at the athletes’ village.
The incident reportedly delayed the ceremony involving Taiwan and five other delegations, while questions remained over who ordered Lee’s exclusion and under what protocol.
Taiwan News reported that members of Taiwan’s delegation said the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) had refused to allow Lee to attend. However, when asked for evidence of the alleged decision, delegation officials were reportedly unable to produce documentation showing that the OCA had issued such an order.
Ceremony Was Scheduled for Six Delegations
The incident occurred during a Team Welcome Ceremony at Garden Pier in Nagoya Port, one of the official venues being used to welcome delegations to the Asian Games.
The official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organizers scheduled welcome ceremonies from September 16 to 18, with three sessions each day at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Each ceremony includes delegation introductions, cultural performances, flag raising, commemorative gifts and photographs.
According to Taiwanese reports, Friday’s 1:30 p.m. session involved delegations from Taiwan, North Korea, India, Lebanon, Timor-Leste and Yemen.
The ceremony was repeatedly postponed while the delegations were already present, according to Taiwan News. A Taiwanese delegation member subsequently told reporters that Lee had been denied entry.
Taiwan Delegation Questions the Decision
A member of Taiwan’s delegation said the group had been told that the OCA had instructed organizers not to allow Lee into the ceremony.
But when reporters asked for evidence supporting that claim, officials were reportedly unable to provide documentation.
That leaves an important question unresolved: whether the decision originated with the OCA, the event organizers or another authority responsible for the ceremony’s protocol.
As of the initial reports, no public OCA statement confirming that it had issued such an instruction was cited.
Taiwan News therefore reported the alleged OCA order while noting that officials could not substantiate it with documentary evidence.
Taiwan Competes Under Its Established Asian Games Name
Taiwan participates in the Asian Games under the designation Chinese Taipei, reflecting the naming arrangement used by major international sporting organizations.
The issue of official naming, symbols and representation has repeatedly been politically sensitive in international sporting events.
Lee, a former Olympic badminton champion, currently serves as Taiwan’s sports minister and has been accompanying the country’s delegation during preparations for the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te presented the national flags to the country’s Asian Games delegation earlier this month and did not set a medal target for the team, according to Taiwan News.
Organizers Had Set a Formal Welcome Protocol
The Aichi-Nagoya organizing committee’s published program indicates that the welcome ceremonies are structured events rather than informal gatherings.
Each session is designed to introduce participating delegations, raise their flags and provide an official welcome from the host organizers.
The OCA also previously outlined the Team Welcome Ceremony schedule, including the use of the Athletes’ Interaction Area at the Athletes Plaza in Garden Pier.
That makes the reported disruption notable because it occurred during a formal protocol event involving multiple delegations.
The Asian Games Begin This Weekend
The 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya are scheduled to begin this weekend, bringing athletes from across Asia together for competition in dozens of sports.
Nagoya is the main host city, with events also taking place across Aichi Prefecture and other designated venues.
For Taiwan, the Games are another major international sporting event in which its athletes compete under the Chinese Taipei designation.
The reported incident involving Lee Yang adds a political and protocol dimension to the Games before competition has fully begun.
What Remains Unclear
At this stage, several details remain unresolved.
There is no publicly documented evidence cited in the initial reports proving that the OCA formally ordered Lee’s exclusion. Taiwan’s delegation has made that claim, but the evidence behind it has not been publicly established.
It is also unclear whether the ceremony’s delay was caused exclusively by the dispute involving Lee or whether other logistical or protocol issues contributed.
The most definitive next step would be an official explanation from the OCA or the Aichi-Nagoya organizing committee identifying who made the decision and the applicable protocol.
For now, the incident remains a developing story as delegations prepare for the opening of the Asian Games.
