"It's a mess that you wouldn't expect from a competition held in Japan."
This lament from local Japanese media reflects the ongoing operational issues at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the first in Japan since the 1994 Hiroshima Games. The event has faced daily scrutiny due to various disruptions, including the South Korean hockey team's match where the North Korean national anthem was played instead of their own, and the absence of a bus to transport the basketball team to their training venue. Complaints have also surfaced regarding the inadequate portion sizes of meals provided at the venues.
The controversies began even before the opening ceremony. On September 15, a performer dressed as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the historical figure responsible for the Imjin War, appeared at the Nagoya Port event welcoming athletes arriving on a cruise ship. The South Korean delegation expressed regret over this choice and sent a letter to the organizing committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) demanding measures to prevent a recurrence.
The welcome ceremony for the athletes also encountered problems. Scheduled for September 18 at Nagoya Port, the event was delayed by an hour and a half, causing some athletes from North Korea and India to leave before it began. An official from the organizing committee explained that the delay was due to extended discussions within the OCA board, which hindered timely communication.
On the same day, during the men's hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh, the North Korean anthem was played instead of the South Korean anthem. The following day, in the women's handball match between South Korea and Hong Kong, neither national anthem was played. Transportation issues persisted as well; on September 15, the bus carrying the South Korean men's soccer team mistakenly went to a nearby baseball stadium, arriving 30 minutes late to the match. On September 20, the bus meant to take the men's basketball team to their training session failed to arrive, leading to the cancellation of their morning practice.
Accommodations have also been a source of discomfort. With no athlete village constructed for this event, competitors are staying on cruise ships and in container-style accommodations. On September 16, the Thai sepaktakraw team faced delays in checking into their rooms due to their names not appearing on the cruise ship's guest list. The container accommodations were cramped, forcing three large South Korean basketball players to share a single room before they were moved to a hotel arranged by the Korean Sports Council.
Food quality has drawn criticism as well. According to Nikkan Sports, the coach of the Thai techball team remarked that the meals provided at the venue were insufficient, stating, "They only give a little, and I’m eating vegetables every day." He also faced restrictions when trying to select an additional vegetable dish, being told he could only choose one.
In response to the ongoing operational issues, the organizing committee issued a statement on September 22. They acknowledged the national anthem incident during the hockey match as a "serious mistake" and attributed it to a staff error, offering a direct apology to the South Korean side and sending a formal letter of apology from the committee chair. They also admitted that the bus for the basketball team's training was not dispatched due to an oversight. Takaaki Omi, the organizing committee's secretary-general, apologized for the inability to respond flexibly to the series of issues, while explaining that the delay in the cruise ship check-in was due to the time taken to adjust the information submitted by the teams. Regarding the meals at the techball venue, they clarified that these were provided by the International Techball Federation, not the organizing committee.
On September 23, the organizing committee responded to South Korea's concerns about the Hideyoshi performance with a letter of explanation. According to Yomiuri Shimbun, Omi stated that the intention was not to convey a political message or historical evaluation but to promote the culture of Nagoya, known for its martial history.
How did such basic mistakes occur in a country known for meticulous preparation? First, consider the accommodations. Athletes are not housed in a single village but are spread across cruise ships, container-style lodgings, and hotels. The organizing committee initially planned to build an athlete village but abandoned the project in 2023 due to rising construction costs. Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura estimated that the costs would be nearly double the originally anticipated 30 billion yen (approximately $258 million). By saving on construction, the routes for athletes traveling between their accommodations and venues became more complicated.
The approach to organizing the event has also changed. Following the fallout from the Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging scandal, the organizing committee could not rely on large advertising agencies, leading to an influx of over 1,600 public officials from Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City to fill the gap. These officials are now responsible for managing venues and accommodations. A department head from Nagoya City, who had worked in social welfare for 20 years, began handling event operations in 2022. One sports organization representative lamented, "It’s difficult to run such a large event without the expertise of a major agency."
The public official-led organizing committee has also struggled to coordinate with private companies. French event company GL events is responsible for venue design, installation, access control, and award ceremonies. One event official noted that when issues arise on-site, the company often responds, "That’s our responsibility," and is reluctant to listen to feedback.
Coordination challenges have not been limited to external companies. The organizing committee itself has rapidly expanded in a short time. Keiji Kojima, the committee's secretary-general, mentioned in a local newspaper interview that the organization, which started with about 30 members, grew to around 2,500 as the event approached, with expectations of reaching 4,000. He acknowledged that the diverse backgrounds of staff from local governments, national agencies, and private companies made inter-departmental communication difficult, stating, "Mistakes are likely to happen." This concern became a reality just over a month later.
The shuttle bus situation exemplifies these issues. According to Tokyo Sports, on September 21, reporters covering a volleyball match found that the bus they were supposed to take did not arrive at the scheduled time. Venue officials explained that drivers were recruited from across the country, many of whom were unfamiliar with Nagoya's geography, leading to repeated responses of, "I don’t know the way," even after plans were communicated. The earlier incident with the South Korean soccer team’s bus going to a baseball stadium was also due to the driver’s lack of knowledge about the venue's location.
Concerns have been raised that the repercussions of these operational issues may extend beyond the current event. A representative from an Olympic sport organization remarked to Tokyo Sports that the lack of thorough preparation and planning could damage Japan's overall reputation and impact future bids for the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. The Asian Games will continue until October 4, followed by the Asian Para Games in Aichi starting on October 18.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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