The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games continue to face operational challenges, prompting Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, who is also the acting head of the organizing committee, to issue an apology.
According to Japanese media outlets Mainichi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, Hirosawa addressed the operational issues during a regular press conference held in Nagoya's Naka Ward on September 30.
"This is an issue that should not have occurred, and I apologize to the athletes and officials," Hirosawa stated. "We must reflect seriously on this matter."
Operational shortcomings have been evident throughout the event. Before a men's hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh, the North Korean national anthem was played instead of South Korea's. There were also reports of buses failing to arrive for accommodations, forcing the South Korean men's basketball and volleyball teams to halt their training due to shuttle bus issues.
In a cruise ship designated as an alternative to the athletes' village, members of the Thai sepaktakraw team were unable to check in and had to sleep on the lobby floor. The container-style accommodations provided only one air conditioning unit, and taller athletes complained about the cramped conditions.
Badminton events were compressed into five days, shorter than usual, leading even world number one An Se-young to play two matches in one day. Some athletes waited until after midnight to compete, raising concerns about the demanding schedule.
Hirosawa attributed the repeated issues to "human error and a lack of communication with the teams."
He added, "The problems have now been resolved. We want to learn from this experience and apply the lessons moving forward."
Despite the challenges, Hirosawa emphasized the positive aspects of the event, stating, "The competition is generating excitement and emotion. Even considering the negative impacts of operational issues, the positive aspects overwhelmingly outweigh them."
When asked about the relationship between cost-cutting measures and operational problems, he replied, "At this point, I cannot say clearly."
In contrast, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura, who is the chair of the organizing committee, has not yet issued a separate statement regarding the operational issues.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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