The Nagoya Asian Games have been mired in chaos. A day before the opening ceremony, a former world champion competing for Macao, China, posted online that after 17 hours she finally managed to check in, only to find the floor slanted. Since when did the Asian Games become a test of survival?
1. The arena--things went wrong even in competition
On Sept. 17, China's women's cricket match against Bangladesh was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch, and the result was decided by world ranking. For China's women's team, 12 years of waiting ended before a single ball was bowled. The very next day, ahead of South Korea's hockey match against Bangladesh, the organisers played North Korea's anthem instead of South Korea's.
2. Accommodation--the worst ever
Nagoya declined to build an athletes' village, citing environmental concerns, though many saw it as a matter of money. Instead, a cruise ship with 200 container cabins and 30 scattered hotels provided 17,000 beds. Each 35-square-metre container room held four beds; the corridors were so narrow that occupants had to squeeze through, and there was only one air conditioner per room. The beds measured just 195cm by 90cm. South Korea's basketball association called it the worst ever.
India went further--building a mock container at home to train for life in the cramped quarters. On the ship, one Indian athlete waited 10 hours to check in. Thirty minutes after he fell asleep, two teammates arrived, turning a double room into a triple--an arrangement he didn't exactly ask for. As the Indian chef de mission put it, Japan's image has collapsed.
3. Food--not enough to eat
A Thai coach complained of only three small pieces of meat, along with a choice between two vegetables.
4. Administration--software worse than hardware
The registration system failed. Of China's 21 gymnasts, only two could be found. China's badminton team had to be collected by local Chinese residents. A driver who took a wrong turn delivered South Korea's and Qatar's football teams to a baseball stadium. "Off-field things are harder to bear than the competition," one athlete said.
5. Commuting--hours wasted on the road
Athletes housed on cruise ships faced a 1.5-hour one-way commute, plus immigration, customs and quarantine checks every time they boarded or disembarked.
6. Venues--spread across the country
Nagoya's venues reportedly failed to meet standards. Swimming, diving and equestrian were moved to Tokyo; track cycling to Shizuoka; football to Osaka--140 kilometres away.
None of this is a joke. Reuters, AFP and *The Korea Times* reported it. "Sleep well, eat well, arrive on time"--Nagoya managed to fail at all three.
7. Compare with Hangzhou
Look back at Hangzhou 2023: 56 venues and 12,000 athletes, with everything--from arrival to transport--running like clockwork.
For the world's fourth-largest economy and its celebrated craftsmanship, this is the result. Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura could only bow and apologise. Still, China's delegation remains at the top of the gold medal table.
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