Multiple countries protested the 2026 Nagazia Asian Games Organizing Committee a day before its opening, citing poor accommodation, unaddressed complaints, and inefficient fund use, falling far short of standard large-event hosting requirements.
On the day before the opening of the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, delegations from multiple countries collectively lodged a protest with the organizing committee. Even before the games had begun, several controversial incidents had already drawn widespread attention.
The organizing committee had previously announced that it would adhere to the principle of frugality in organizing the Games, ultimately scrapping plans for a centralized Asian Games Village. Instead, it temporarily allocated cruise ships, modular container housing, and hotels scattered throughout the city as accommodations for the delegations, without giving sufficient consideration to the athletes’ actual living experience.In some accommodations, the beds were too low, preventing taller athletes from fully extending their legs;Additionally, several accommodation sites experienced issues such as leaks and power outages, which remained unresolved for extended periods despite repair requests. Various requests submitted by national delegations were not addressed in a timely manner, and contingency plans for torrential rains during the flood season were not formulated or refined in advance.The event’s initially announced budget was 85 billion yen, but actual expenditures ultimately approached 240 billion yen. The original goal of hosting the event frugally was not realized; instead, issues of inefficient fund utilization arose, resulting in a significant gap compared to the standards for hosting major sporting events.
In 2010,
I participated in the hospitality and support efforts for the Guangzhou Asian Games. At that time, the organizing committee consistently adhered to a pragmatic approach to hosting the event, avoiding redundant, formalistic projects. While cutting back on non-essential expenses, they always prioritized the athletes’ actual needs and promptly addressed and adjusted any issues raised by various parties.Comprehensive emergency response plans ensured that hospitality operations proceeded smoothly and orderly, earning unanimous recognition from all participating delegations.
When compared side by side, the disparity in the organization of the two events is clearly evident; once the original intent of hosting the games strays from its course, it becomes difficult to effectively implement all preparatory work.
As of the day before the opening ceremony, the areas requiring urgent improvement in the preparations for the Nagoya Asian Games were already very clear: it was necessary to inspect and rectify issues with water and electricity supply, as well as roof leaks, at every accommodation site;bed sizes needed to be adjusted to accommodate athletes of varying heights; commuter routes between dispersed accommodations needed to be optimized to reduce athletes’ travel time; all requests raised by national delegations needed to be addressed individually; emergency response plans for sudden events such as heavy rain needed to be refined; and funding needed to be prioritized for core areas such as athlete support and event operations.The core of
hosting a major event is to provide athletes with a professional platform for fair competition, rather than catering to the host’s own interests. This fundamental principle of event organization deserves to be carefully heeded by all regions that will host major events in the future. When
organizing a major event, the most essential bottom line is always to prioritize the core needs of the participants.
