19 September,2026 10:09 AM IST | Aichi-Nagoya | Sundeep Misra
The Costa Serena cruise ship, which is housing Asian Games athletes at Nagoya Port, Japan. Pic/PTI
[popcorn number="17,000" desc="No. of athletes and officials at the games" class="Default"]
Normally, a day before any Asian Games, the conversation is about athletes arriving, venues coming alive, the Games flame and the maths around the medal count.
Instead, organisers here are grappling with below-par rooms, food issues, transport problems, accreditation, a cruise ship, flag disputes and an incoming typhoon. It's a heavy list threatening to derail the multi-sport event before it has officially begun.
The 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are massive, with close to 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries competing across 43 sports. By comparison, the 2024 Paris Olympics hosted about 10,700 athletes across 32 sports. The sheer volume explains the logistical strain, though it does not excuse the chaos. The core issue stems from a decision made long ago - skipping a dedicated Athletes Village. Organisers instead opted for a patchwork of hotels, a luxury cruise liner and temporary container units to avoid post-Games "white elephants".
At a Main Media Centre press conference, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Director General Husain Al-Musallam defended the arrangement, saying: "While having a traditional athlete village would be nice, we also need to be flexible. We must think about the future of the host city and how the venues will be utilised after the games conclude."
Despite assurances that accommodation was properly assigned and "not a single participant has been left stranded", the picture on the ground has been different. The Japanese delegation scrambled for alternative housing after male and female athletes were assigned shared rooms. Around 4000 participants are living aboard the Costa Serena, while 2000 occupy container units.
Diplomatic friction added to the tension. Upon landing at Chubu Centrair International Airport, the South Korean delegation was barred from carrying its large national flag through the entry process because of internal regulations, prompting an official complaint. Transport problems followed. At Aichi Sky Expo, arriving teams were stranded. India's rowing team waited more than four hours, while China's gymnastics squad faced similar delays. Buses carrying South Korean and Qatari football teams reportedly drove to a baseball stadium instead of a rugby venue, while Vietnam's volleyball team landed at the wrong hotel. Food also became a grievance, with the Indian contingent reporting scarce dietary options, an issue that has since been resolved after athletes opted for an Indian restaurant.
Then came the weather. Torrential rain forced 400 athletes in ground-level units to evacuate. Organisers are now tracking Tropical Storm Dujuan, expected to approach central Japan around September 21. Contingency plans include unmooring the Costa Serena, if required.
None of this means the Games are doomed. Stadiums are ready, preliminary action is underway and contingency plans exist. Yet mega-events ruthlessly expose the gulf between blueprint, promises and reality.
On the eve of the opening ceremony, Nagoya is still talking logistics instead of podium favourites. The theme, Heartbeats in Unison, feels ironic amid the chaos. Perhaps, once the flame is lit, the focus can finally shift to where it belongs - the Games.
