As the Aichi and Nagoya Asian Games approach, set to begin on September 19, Japan has entered a state of emergency preparedness for heavy rain, extreme heat, typhoons, and even major earthquakes and tsunamis. Just ten days before the opening, record rainfall led to the evacuation of approximately 400 international athletes and staff who had already arrived. The organizing committee has activated a 24-hour weather monitoring system, deploying observation equipment and experts at each venue.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on September 15, the event will take place from September 19 to October 4, primarily in Aichi Prefecture. This marks the first time Japan has hosted the Asian Games since the 1994 Hiroshima Games, with over 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions competing in 43 sports, including athletics, swimming, soccer, baseball, and esports.
A notable feature of this event is the distribution of venues and accommodations. Competitions will be held across five regions, including Aichi, Tokyo, and Shizuoka, with events taking place in five districts within Aichi Prefecture, such as Nagoya and Chita. Instead of a large athlete village, accommodations are spread across container facilities, cruise ships, and hotels. This structure allows for rapid response in case of heavy rain or earthquakes in any one area.
The risks became apparent even before the event began. On September 8, Nagoya experienced a line of rain clouds that caused record rainfall, prompting evacuation orders around the Nagoya Port Garden Pier, where some athletes were staying in container accommodations. The organizing committee moved the 400 international athletes and staff to safety, with no reported injuries.
During the evacuation, the weather information center established by the organizing committee was activated. This center, set up last month, consists of staff from the Japan Meteorological Agency and personnel from private weather companies, collecting weather data for each venue around the clock. At nine venues, including the surfing site in Tahara and the triathlon venue in Gamagori, weather observation equipment approximately three meters high has been installed. This equipment collects real-time data on wind direction, wind speed, rainfall every ten minutes, and temperature, while also calculating the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to assess heat-related illness risks in areas with high heat concerns.
Weather experts will be stationed at seven venues, including surfing, triathlon, yachting, and golf, starting the day before events to help determine whether to postpone or adjust start times based on observation data.
Japan's focus on weather preparedness stems from recent international sporting events where typhoons and extreme heat led to cancellations and athlete withdrawals. During the 2019 Rugby World Cup held in Japan, three matches were canceled due to a typhoon. Last September, the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo moved the start time for the marathon and race walking events to 7:30 a.m. to avoid the heat, but many athletes still withdrew mid-race.
The situation remains concerning this year. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 17 typhoons occurred from June to August, significantly exceeding the average of 11 and marking the third-highest number on record. There is a possibility that a typhoon could approach the Japanese archipelago during the event. Current forecasts indicate that Typhoon Dujuan, the 25th of the season, is expected to pass through Japan next week. Additionally, temperatures in the Tokai region during September and October are expected to be above average, with days exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and potentially reaching over 35 degrees.
Earthquakes and tsunamis also pose significant risks. According to predictions for the Nankai Trough earthquake in Nagoya, a tsunami of up to 3.6 meters could reach the Garden Pier, where athletes are housed, in the event of an underwater quake. The organizing committee has plans to evacuate athletes to nearby high-rise buildings and then transport them inland by bus. Designated evacuation sites are separate from those for local residents. To prepare foreign athletes who have never experienced an earthquake, training vehicles will simulate actual tremors.
South Korea is sending over 1,000 athletes across 41 sports. The South Korean government established a joint preparation team led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in July to coordinate support and response systems for the distributed hosting. Ensuring the safety of the event amid unpredictable weather has become a major challenge as the opening approaches.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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