On December 1, the Chefs de Mission Seminar for the 6th Asian Beach Games (ABG) Sanya 2026 was held in Sanya, with representatives and chefs de mission from all 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across Asia in attendance.

Participants included Vinod Kumar Tiwari, Deputy Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Wissam Trkmani, Director of OCA International and NOC Relations, Song Xueying, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), Kang Ping, Deputy Director of the COC Competitive Sports Department, Xie Jing, Vice Governor of Hainan Province and Vice Chair of the Sanya ABG Organizing Committee, Chen Xi, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee and Mayor of Sanya, Zhang Changfeng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee and Vice Mayor of Sanya, as well as representatives from the OCA, the 45 NOCs, Hainan provincial departments, and the relevant divisions of the Organizing Committee. Zou Jiaming, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee and Deputy Party Secretary of Sanya, chaired the meeting.

During the opening session, Deputy Director-General Vinod Kumar Tiwari, Deputy Secretary-General Song Xueying, and Vice Governor Xie Jing delivered remarks. Secretary-General Chen Xi then presented a thorough briefing on the overall progress of preparations for the Asian Beach Games. 

The Organizing Committee presented a comprehensive update through detailed presentations and interactive Q&A sessions. Core operational topics included competition services and registration, competition and training venues, anti-doping operations, accreditation, Athletes’ Village management, transportation, logistics, finance and rate cards, media operations, arrivals and departures, ceremonies and cultural activities, ticketing, security, medical services, and information technology. 

At the seminar, the Organizing Committee released the “Chef de Mission Guide for the 6th Asian Beach Games”, a comprehensive reference manual consolidating policies, procedures, and essential information to support NOCs in preparing for the Games.

Consultation desks representing various functional areas were set up outside the meeting hall to provide real-time support and facilitate one-on-one discussions with NOC delegations. Delegates also toured several key venues, including the Ring Theater at ABG Park (the ceremonies venue), the west competition cluster at Tianya Haijiao (hosting beach handball, sport climbing, and beach volleyball), and the Athletes’ Village, providing the chefs de mission a comprehensive understanding of venue conditions and supporting facilities.

Holding a chefs de mission seminar prior to the games is a standard practice in major international sporting events. It serves as a crucial platform for host cities and NOCs to exchange information, coordinate policies, and refine service plans, thereby laying a strong foundation for the smooth and successful staging of the Games.

The convening of this seminar marks a pivotal milestone in preparations for the 6th Asian Beach Games (ABG) Sanya 2026, symbolizing a transition from broad advancement to precise implementation. Coinciding with the formal launch of special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the meeting also provided a significant opportunity to showcase Sanya’s vibrancy, openness, and evolving city appeal.