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Asian Games 2026 Open in Nagoya Amid Flooding and Delays
Confirmed
In Short: Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa revealed that around 400 athletes and staff were briefly evacuated to higher ground due to record flooding just 10 days before the Games. Despite this, Hirosawa assured that there was no serious damage to the venues.
The 20th Asian Games officially opened in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending his best wishes to the Indian contingent competing in the event. 'As the Asian Games commence in Aichi-Nagoya, my best wishes to the Indian contingent. Each athlete has worked incredibly hard and shown remarkable dedication and determination. India is proud of them,' Modi said in a post on X.
The Games, which run until October 4, will see around 11,000 athletes from 45 nations competing in 43 sports, 71 sub-events, and a total of 469 gold medals. However, the event has faced several challenges, including flooding and logistical issues.
Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa revealed that around 400 athletes and staff were briefly evacuated to higher ground due to record flooding just 10 days before the Games. Despite this, Hirosawa assured that there was no serious damage to the venues.
The opening ceremony at the Garden Pier athletes' village was delayed and then abruptly halted, leaving the Indian delegation and five other nations waiting. This was another small episode in a Games that has accumulated an unusually long list of issues before the opening ceremony.
Among the standout athletes is Pathirage, the javelin phenom who has been collecting gold medals like Pokemon cards this year. He is eyeing the Asian record of 92.97m set by Arshad Nadeem at the Paris 2024 Olympics, poised to break it after becoming the only thrower this season to breach 92m twice.
Swimmer Eala, now 13, is looking to dominate at her first Asian Games, entering in the 200m Individual Medley, 400m IM, and 200m butterfly events, alongside relays. A gold medal at the Asian Games serves as automatic qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
The Asian Games are also hosting the inaugural Ultimate Championship, a three-day competition with a record prize pot of $10m. The event will see 26 Olympic champions from Paris, 26 world champions from Tokyo last year, and this season’s top athletes battle it out to be crowned the best in track and field.
What this adds
The Games are confronting many challenges, putting under scrutiny the Japanese reputation for precision. Schools shut, trains were suspended, and hundreds of Asian Games athletes had to be evacuated from their accommodation due to flooding.
Background
Several top athletes, including javelin thrower Pathirage and swimmer Eala, are set to make their mark at the Asian Games in Japan.
Several top athletes, including javelin thrower Pathirage and swimmer Eala, are set to make their mark at the Asian Games in Japan.
What's confirmed
- The 20th Asian Games officially opened in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending his best wishes to the Indian contingent competing in the event. 'As the Asian Games commence in Aichi-Nagoya, my best wishes to the Indian contingent. Each athlete has worked incredibly hard and shown remarkable dedication and determination. India is proud of them,' Modi said in a post on X.
- The Games, which run until October 4, will see around 11,000 athletes from 45 nations competing in 43 sports, 71 sub-events, and a total of 469 gold medals. However, the event has faced several challenges, including flooding and logistical issues.
- Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa revealed that around 400 athletes and staff were briefly evacuated to higher ground due to record flooding just 10 days before the Games. Despite this, Hirosawa assured that there was no serious damage to the venues.
- The opening ceremony at the Garden Pier athletes' village was delayed and then abruptly halted, leaving the Indian delegation and five other nations waiting. This was another small episode in a Games that has accumulated an unusually long list of issues before the opening ceremony.
- Among the standout athletes is Pathirage, the javelin phenom who has been collecting gold medals like Pokemon cards this year. He is eyeing the Asian record of 92.97m set by Arshad Nadeem at the Paris 2024 Olympics, poised to break it after becoming the only thrower this season to breach 92m twice.
- Swimmer Eala, now 13, is looking to dominate at her first Asian Games, entering in the 200m Individual Medley, 400m IM, and 200m butterfly events, alongside relays. A gold medal at the Asian Games serves as automatic qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
- The Asian Games are also hosting the inaugural Ultimate Championship, a three-day competition with a record prize pot of $10m. The event will see 26 Olympic champions from Paris, 26 world champions from Tokyo last year, and this season’s top athletes battle it out to be crowned the best in track and field.
What's still developing
- Competitions for basketball, football, cricket and some other events have already started. 501 Indian athletes across 36 sports will participate in the 2025 Asian Games. From 55-year-old equestrian Shruti Vora to 15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India's contingent spans a 40-year age gap. India will aim to better their record haul of 107 medals at Hangzhou 2022.
- But the Games itself is confronting many a battle, putting under scrutiny the Japanese reputation for precision, which even delivered an Olympic Games in the middle of a pandemic.
- Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the country has set up three layers of assistance for its athletes, drawing on Nagoya’s 2,000-strong Indian diaspora community.
- The OCA said the arrangements were a conscious attempt to avoid building an expensive village that could become a post-Games white elephant, and insist every registered participant has been provided with accommodation.
- An official of the continental body, speaking anonymously, told this paper that apart from the cost-saving measures, this was also done because the declining and ageing population in the region meant there weren’t many buyers for the repurposed flats after the Games.
- And across a city preparing to host the Asian Games and welcome 17,000 athletes and officials, the instinct is to carry on as though nothing happened.
- Other notable athletes include tennis player Eala, who will compete at the Singapore Open just before the games and is the favorite for gold in women’s singles.
- Athletes’ specific sports, personal stories, and school cultures are getting electronic scrolls and bold copy typeface in public community centres.
- All coinciding with the lead up to their events at the Asian Games and prominently displayed in towns and villages and cities where they grew up.
- Japan has unveiled a sports blitz ahead of the Asian Games splashing their athletes in public squares and front office buildings in order to ring in the Aichi Nagoya Games.
- These “Personalized Ads” are displayed at alma maters and local communities of Japan’s National Team Athletes by the official live broadcaster for the event starting September 16.
- The ads came up overnight, displayed in 20 locations with ties to the athletes, such as areas surrounding their schools, nearest train stations, and routes to school.