"If Problems Persist, It Is Serious Incompetence"... Yoo Seung-min Criticizes Operation of Nagoya Asian Games

Issues With Accommodations and Shuttle Scheduling Persist Throughout the Games
Yoo Seung-min: "Problems Impacting Athletes' Performance Are the Real Issue"

Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, rated the management of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as "Grade F." He explained that issues with accommodations, transportation, and training environments are affecting both the athletes’ performance and their preparation process.

Speaking to domestic reporters at a press conference held at the Main Media Center in Nagoya, Japan, on the 24th, Yoo was asked about the management of the Games. He replied, “If the choices were A, B, and C, I would give a C. But if the choices went down to F, it would have to be an F.” He added, “It’s not just me—many others feel the same way. If operational issues are significant enough to affect the athletes’ performance, we must speak up regardless of how harsh that sounds.”

In particular, Yoo pointed out operational problems that have a direct impact on athletes’ preparation for competition. He acknowledged that “things have gotten better than at first,” but noted that ongoing issues with accommodations, shuttle bus assignments, and training environments are impacting performance.

Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sports Council, is answering reporters' questions at a press conference held at the Main Media Center of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

In fact, there have been repeated problems regarding transportation and accommodation for athletes at these Games. The men’s basketball team had to cancel a planned training session before the finals due to a bus scheduling issue, and the Chinese delegation was stranded at the airport for several hours. During the modern pentathlon award ceremony, Korea’s country name was misspelled and later corrected.

Accommodation issues have also been a major controversy in the Games’ management. Rather than building a separate large-scale athletes’ village, the organizers distributed delegations among the Italian cruise ship ‘Costa Serena’, prefabricated accommodations near Nagoya Port, and regular hotels. As a result, there was confusion regarding the check-in process, room assignments, and team movements.

Transportation issues likewise affected athletes’ schedules. There were several cases where shuttle buses between venues, training facilities, and accommodations did not run smoothly, forcing individual sports associations and federations to support athlete transportation themselves. Yoo said, “Operational mistakes that disrupt athletes’ routines inevitably result in a failing score in the evaluation of the Games. If issues like these persist, it amounts to serious incompetence.”

Yoo also expressed a critical stance regarding the organizing committee’s handling of these operation issues. He said, “It is not desirable for the organizing committee to make excuses,” adding that rather than explaining away the causes of problems, the focus should be on resolving inconveniences experienced by the athletes.

Meanwhile, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee is responding to athlete issues through each sport’s association and federation. Yoo stated, “We will also provide detailed support,” emphasizing the committee’s commitment to assisting athletes so that they can focus on their performance until the end of the event.

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