On September 18, 2026, the flag hoisting ceremony at the Asian Games in Nagoya was delayed by more than an hour before six contingents, including India, could raise their national flags at Garden Pier. Organisers later said the holdup came down to miscommunication between the Olympic Council of Asia's executive board and the local organising committee, not any political dispute between the participating nations.
The moment made headlines mainly because it happened in front of the world's cameras. But it also put a spotlight on something most people never think about, how strictly national flag protocol is followed at international sporting events, and how much planning goes into getting it right every single time.
What actually happened at the Asian Games 2026 flag ceremony
Six teams, Yemen, North Korea, Palestine, India, Chinese Taipei and Timor Leste, were scheduled to complete their flag hoisting at Garden Pier as part of the broader Games opening protocol. The ceremony stalled for over an hour, and contingents were repeatedly sent to a waiting area and told the delay would last another fifteen minutes.
India's deputy chefs de mission, Anjali Bhagwat and Lijo David Thottan, represented the Indian contingent once the ceremony resumed. An organising committee official later clarified that the delay had nothing to do with any single team and was purely a coordination failure between the two governing bodies running the event. The disruption came on top of other early logistical issues at these Games, including complaints from athletes about cramped accommodation.
Why flag ceremonies are treated so seriously in the first place
A national flag on the world stage is not decoration, it is the country itself in symbolic form. That's exactly why even a one hour delay becomes international news, and why organisers move fast to explain what went wrong rather than letting it look like a snub.
This is also why flag protocol at these events is unusually detailed. It's not just about hoisting a flag and walking away, there are specific rules for how multiple national flags are displayed together, and breaking them can be read as a diplomatic slight even when it's genuinely an accident.
The core rules every international event follows
Across the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and most multilateral summits, a common set of flag protocol principles applies, with small variations by host country.
- Equal size and height: When flags of different nations are displayed together, they are flown at the same size and the same height. No single country's flag is made taller or larger than another's.
- Order during the parade of nations: Teams typically enter in the host language's alphabetical order, with the host nation's flag placed last, and the next host nation given a position near the front as a handover gesture.
- The flag never touches the ground: Whether it's being raised, carried or folded, a flag that touches the ground during an official ceremony is treated as a visible error and is usually corrected on the spot.
- Damaged or worn flags are retired, not displayed: Any flag used at this level is expected to be in pristine condition, since a faded or torn flag at a global broadcast event reflects poorly on the host and the nation it represents.
The host country controls timing and sequence: This is exactly where the Asian Games 2026 ceremony broke down. When the governing sports body and the local organising committee aren't perfectly synced on timing, the entire sequence stalls, as it did for over an hour in Nagoya.
How India's own Flag Code applies when the tricolour travels abroad
The Flag Code of India, 2002 governs how the Indian national flag must be displayed, and several of its principles carry over directly to how the tricolour is handled at international events.
When the Indian flag is displayed alongside other national flags, it is flown at the same height and size as the others, never higher or larger as a mark of superiority, and never lower or smaller either. When it's marched in a parade with a foreign flag, precedence and positioning follow the host event's protocol, but the flag itself must still meet Indian standards of respect, meaning it's never allowed to trail on the ground, get used as drapery, or be handled carelessly.
This is also why the flags used at these events aren't picked off a shelf. National sports federations and event organisers work with certified manufacturers who can guarantee accurate colours, correct proportions and durable stitching, because a flag that fades or frays halfway through a multi week tournament becomes its own embarrassment.
What this means if you're organising a multi flag event in India
You don't need to be running an Asian Games to run into these same challenges. Corporate offices hosting international delegations, schools running Model UN events, sports academies hosting international tournaments and government departments organising bilateral meetings all face a scaled down version of exactly what happened in Nagoya, getting multiple national flags matched in size, correctly proportioned and displayed in the right order.
A few practical lessons carry over directly. Order your flags from one supplier so every country's flag is dye matched and made to identical dimensions, confirm the display sequence with all parties well before the event rather than improvising on the day, and always keep a spare set on hand, since weather, wear or a last minute change in delegation can throw off even a well planned ceremony.
We manufacture and supply flags for every country recognised at these events, matched for size, colour and finish, along with the outdoor poles, indoor stands and conference table sets needed to display them correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Why do international sporting events have such strict rules for flags?
Because a national flag represents the country itself at these events, any inconsistency in how it's displayed, whether in size, height or condition, can be read as a slight, even when it's unintentional. Strict rules remove that ambiguity.
What actually caused the delay at the Asian Games 2026 flag ceremony?
Organisers said it came down to miscommunication between the Olympic Council of Asia's executive board and the local organising committee in Nagoya, not any dispute involving the participating nations.
Can two national flags be displayed at different heights?
No. When flags of different nations are shown together at an official event, they are flown at the same height and the same size, regardless of the size or standing of the countries involved.
Does the Flag Code of India apply when the tricolour is used abroad?
The core respect principles of the Flag Code, such as never letting the flag touch the ground and never displaying it in a damaged state, apply wherever the Indian flag is officially used. Positioning and sequence at a foreign event typically follow that event's own protocol.
Who supplies flags for events like the Asian Games or corporate summits?
Certified flag manufacturers who can guarantee colour accuracy, correct proportions and consistent sizing across multiple countries' flags in a single order, since even small mismatches are noticeable at a formal ceremony.
Wrap up
The Asian Games 2026 flag ceremony will likely be remembered as a footnote in a much bigger tournament, but it's a useful reminder that flag protocol exists for a reason. Every rule around size, height, sequence and condition is there to make sure a nation's flag is represented with the dignity it deserves, whether that's on a global broadcast in Nagoya or at a bilateral meeting in Delhi.
If you're organising an event that involves displaying multiple national flags, get in touch with us early. We supply correctly proportioned, colour matched flags for every country, along with the poles, stands and accessories needed to display them the right way.
Browse our full country flag range at www.flagwale.com or WhatsApp us at +91 98113 04329 for event specific quotes.
