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Stephy Zhang

Plagued by controversy ranging from athlete accommodation and dining complaints to severe operational blunders including misrecorded scores and incorrect national anthems, Asian Games host Japan has faced criticism for deflecting blame onto delegations and foreign contractors rather than addressing its own shortcomings.
And now some in the country are worried they could be landed with the label of hosting the “worst Asian Games ever”.
On Tuesday, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) issued a statement addressing reports of poor athlete dining and housing conditions, while local media analysis attributed the operational chaos to the absence of major Japanese agencies and the heavy involvement of a French operator.
In its statement, the committee acknowledged it was “aware” of the confusion reported on social media by some delegations boarding the cruise ship on September 16.
To reduce costs, local organisers have accommodated athletes ⁠and officials in a mix of hotels, temporary wooden containers and a cruise ship rather than build a traditional Games village.

Responding to reports that “AINAGOC’s failure to submit accommodation information to the accommodation system led to delays in boarding,” officials stated that “this was not the cause.”
“We understand that the primary reason for the boarding delays and confusion was the time required to resolve issues with incomplete documentation submitted by some delegations,” the statement read.
Regarding cruise ship operations, AINAGOC stated it was coordinating closely with Costa Cruises and JTB Corporation, adding that “AINAGOC will continue to work closely with relevant service providers to ensure the smooth reception of the athlete delegations.”
Addressing criticism on social media regarding meal quality at the teqball competition venue, the committee similarly noted it was “aware”, but added that “however, these items were not provided by the AINAGOC”.
According to official website information from last October, Australian firm Global Hospitality Group K.K. Japan was appointed as an official supplier for the 20th Asian Games and 5th Asian Para Games.
“The appointment reflects Global Hospitality Group’s strong reputation of continuous feeding for world-class elite athletes and operational excellence,” the Australian company stated at the time.
Meanwhile, Japanese media outlet Tokyo Sports on the same day attributed the Games’ operational troubles to the absence of major domestic advertising agencies and the deep involvement of veteran French event firm GL Events.
Its report noted that domestic advertising giants failed to secure contracts because of corruption scandals tied to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
“Although Aichi prefecture and Nagoya city formed the core of the organising committee, they lacked the expertise to handle unexpected situations,” the report stated.
Before the Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) pushed for the host city contract limit of athletes and officials to exceed 15,000. The media said although Aichi Prefecture expressed difficulties, the OCA insisted, leading to numerous obstacles before the opening ceremony.

A sporting association official expressed frustration, noting that without the long-accumulated experience of major agencies, managing a tournament of this scale was very difficult.
Another key factor cited was the “intervention” of French firm GL Events. Headquartered in Lyon, the company oversees venue design, infrastructure set-up, access control, accreditation and victory ceremonies.
An event insider expressed frustration, stating: “Even when we see points of concern, that company refuses our input, saying ‘this is our domain’.” Moves to bypass traditional agencies appear to have backfired.
South Korea’s chef de mission ⁠Lee Sang-hyun criticised the organisers on Tuesday for logistical failures that had inconvenienced athletes and said concrete measures had to be taken to ensure the problems were not repeated.
Lee said his delegation had requested a meeting with senior Games officials and wanted a formal apology “at a higher level” after South Korean athletes were affected by transport and accommodation issues at the event in ‌Japan.
“I hope the organising committee and the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) will give these issues greater attention,” he said at Korea House, the team’s hospitality hub in Nagoya.
“More than simply apologising, I believe it is important for them to come up with concrete measures to prevent these problems from happening again and put those measures into practice.
“However, they have not yet provided us with any concrete plans for how they intend to improve things going forward.”
South Korea moved their men’s basketball ‌team out of their container units at Garden Pier and into hotels because they said the beds were too short and after one of the units flooded during heavy rain.
Lee said the containers were “extremely cramped” for the basketball players and ‌that administrative confusion on the cruise ship over bookings and room assignments had inconvenienced athletes.
The men’s team had to cancel a training session hours before their final against Japan because their shuttle bus did not show up.
Transport issues have affected other South Korean athletes, including the men’s football team, the defending Asian Games champions.

The OCA, which governs the quadrennial Asian Games, did not provide immediate comment.
Amid recurring issues, operational staff lamented that the chaos was “so terrible it is hard to believe this tournament is being held in Japan”.
Repeated transport dispatch failures have also drawn criticism, with a major event management insider noting: “While there were disappointing international events in Japan before, this far exceeds expectations.”
Even volunteers raised concerns, saying: “The management is truly full of problems, which makes us very sorry. Why is a French firm involved in the first place?”
Tokyo Sports warned that if conditions continued to deteriorate, the event risked going down in history as the “worst Asian Games ever”.


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Japan fears hosting ‘worst Asian Games ever’, blames French firm for organisational woes

Asian Games competitors have been housed in wooden container units as part of the mix of accommodation that make up the "athletes’ village". Photo: Reuters

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee has issued a statement addressing reports of poor athlete dining and housing conditions. Photo: AINAGOC

The Thai sepak takraw team spent almost 24 hours trying to check in after organisers failed to enter their accommodation details into the system. Photo: Main Stand

South Korea’s gold-medal-winning basketball team (in black) had to cancel a training session before the final against Japan because the shuttle bus did not show up. Photo: AP

Asian Games: tiny beds, rooms that leak, is Japan accommodation ‘the worst ever’?

The Asian Games will open in Japan on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

A view of a cabin from Indias first container-based accommodation. Photo: AFP

Asian Games: Typhoon Dujuan could force cruise ship housing athletes to set sail

The Costa Serena is a 290-metre-long cruise ship that is being used as accommodation for athletes during the Asian Games. Photo: AFP

Table tennis player Zhu Yuling shares a wind advisory from cruise ship management on social media. Photo: Zhu Yuling

Sport

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Organisers address reports of poor dining and housing; local media attribute chaos to lack of Japanese input, involvement of French operator


Organisers address reports of poor dining and housing; local media attribute chaos to lack of Japanese input, involvement of French operator.


Athletes

Japan fears hosting ‘worst Asian Games ever’, blames French firm for organisational woes

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Organisers address reports of poor dining and housing; local media attribute chaos to lack of Japanese input, involvement of French operator

Organisers address reports of poor dining and housing; local media attribute chaos to lack of Japanese input, involvement of French operator