Men and Women Assigned to Same Rooms, North Korean Anthem Played... "Catastrophe," "Dark Chapter"—Asian Games Criticized Even in Japan

Operational controversies erupt at Asian Games from the start
Japanese media call it "the worst in history"
Public sentiment: "Why did they even host this?" and "A dark chapter"

From the very start of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, a series of operational issues have emerged—including accommodation shortages, inadequate meals for athletes, and errors in national anthems. These shortcomings have even sparked criticism within Japan itself.

Some athletes participating in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are seen taking naps in the cruise ship lobby due to accommodation reservation issues. Photo by Arin Yumi X

On the 21st, the Japanese media outlet Shueisha Online reported, "Some athlete delegations have been left without accommodations and are staying at the homes of Japanese nationals," adding that "even when accommodations are provided, men and women have sometimes been assigned to the same room, or overlapping reservations have prevented entry to the rooms."

The outlet also shared complaints about the extremely small portion sizes served to athletes, and cited an incident in which the bus carrying the Korean national football team was sent to a baseball stadium by mistake. It warned, "A catastrophe looms." The Mainichi Shimbun reported that ongoing facility issues have occurred, including water leaks in accommodations, noting that some voices have called it "the worst in history." Concerns were also raised that the event may be remembered as a "dark chapter" in Japanese sports history.

"Why Did They Host This Without Enough Money?"... Self-criticism Within Japan

In reality, a series of mistakes are being reported regarding the management of the event. On the 18th, during the men’s hockey match between Korea and Bangladesh, North Korea’s national anthem was played instead of Korea's, and members of the organizing committee visited the Korean team to apologize. The following day, neither national anthem was played during the women’s handball match between Korea and Hong Kong. There was also an incident in the modern pentathlon where the Korean gold medalist was introduced as representing the "Republic of China"—Taiwan’s official name. Complaints about accommodation conditions were widespread. Paik Jaeyong, Vice President of the Korea Basketball Association, told AFP, "Players who are over two meters tall can't even stretch their legs in bed. It’s an unbelievable situation," describing the accommodation as "the worst ever."

Noriko Ishigaki, a member of the House of Councillors, wrote on social media, "Unbelievable stories about the event’s operation keep making the news," and emphasized the need for thorough investigation and response to restore trust. Local assemblies also raised the need to scrutinize whether there was any negligence on the part of the companies responsible for operational management. According to media reports, Japanese netizens responded with comments such as, "Why did we host such an event without the financial resources?" and "Japan has lost any chance to host a major international sports event in the future."

Athletes' Village Canceled, Headcount Overrun, Budget Limitations... Ongoing Disputes Over Responsibility

On the 14th, people are passing by a sign for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

The organizing committee canceled the construction of the athletes’ village in December 2024, citing a sharp surge in building material costs. As alternatives, they planned to accommodate 4,000 people on a large cruise ship docked at Nagoya Port, around 2,000 people in roughly 200 temporary container accommodations, and 9,000 people in downtown hotels.

However, the actual number of participants far exceeded the plan. According to the host city contract, the maximum number of participants was set at 15,000, but the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which organizes the event, announced last month that over 17,000 individuals would attend. In response, Aichi Governor and Organizing Committee Chair Hideaki Omura declared on August 25 that the budget had only been prepared for 15,000 participants and that he would not cover additional costs for the excess. However, after public controversy, Governor Omura explained on September 2 that a compromise had been reached, and that accommodation for all athletes would be arranged. It was also decided that each country's Olympic committee would be required to secure and pay for accommodations for the surplus headcount of coaches and staff.

When the OCA requested the addition of two more sports in December last year, the organizing committee responded that it was "frankly, at the limit both in terms of personnel and budget," and repeatedly appealed to the central government for additional funding. There is now growing criticism that organizational leaders may have anticipated problems stemming from a lack of budget, suggesting the dispute over responsibility for the mismanagement is likely to continue for some time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.