Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council, strongly criticized the operational shortcomings of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He effectively assigned a failing grade to the event's management, citing disruptions to athletes' transportation and training schedules.
During a press conference on September 24 at the Main Media Center in Nagoya, Yoo stated, "If I were to grade the organizing committee, I would give it a C. If there were an F, I would give it an F." This assessment follows a series of issues with accommodations, meals, and transportation that have persisted since the start of the Games.
The organizing committee has faced criticism for exposing problems in lodging, transportation, and training environments, citing cost-cutting measures as the reason.
The South Korean basketball team was unable to conduct a scheduled training session on the day of the final due to a shuttle bus not arriving, while the under-23 men's soccer team and the baseball team also experienced disruptions in their training and transportation services. Many other national teams have similarly reported operational issues during the Games.
Yoo remarked, "It is not appropriate for the organizing committee to make excuses," adding, "The reason I have refrained from commenting on external issues is that negative factors could impact our athletes."
He also noted, "In addition to operational issues, there have been various problems, such as introducing South Korea as North Korea or playing the North Korean national anthem instead of our own. While it is difficult to prevent such unexpected situations, it is crucial to respond quickly, accurately, and decisively when problems arise. I will not delay even for a second in addressing these issues."
Despite the challenging conditions, Yoo praised the athletes who have achieved results. He said, "The medal race at the beginning of the Games has not met expectations, but I believe we are doing well. I think achieving our goal of 40 to 45 gold medals is entirely possible."
He promised to provide more support for a wider range of sports, noting that athletes in under-supported disciplines, such as techball player Lee Jun-seok, have been performing well.
Regarding the North Korean delegation and sports diplomacy, Yoo took a cautious stance. He stated, "We are trying to avoid forced contact with North Korea during this event," adding, "While we do not harbor hostile feelings, the atmosphere for dialogue is absent, so we must be careful."
However, he emphasized, "It is clear that when a certain atmosphere is formed, sports can play a leading role. That is the value of sports."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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