AG Delegations Evacuated Amid Heavy Rains in Nagoya; Men's Basketball Team Cancels Practice

Record-breaking torrential rain has struck Nagoya, Japan, ahead of the opening of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, prompting hundreds of athletes staying in temporary quarters to be urgently evacuated.

According to AP and AFP reports today (September 9), torrential downpours reaching up to 104 mm per hour pounded the Nagoya area the previous day, flooding roads and subway stations and halting public transportation.

Due to the heavy rain, approximately 3,500 residents in the city of Nagoya alone took shelter in evacuation centers.

Instead of operating a large, centralized athletes' village, the upcoming Games are utilizing cruise ships, hotels, and temporary wooden containers as accommodations.

Among these, rainwater leaked into temporary container accommodations set up near the port, forcing about 400 athletes and officials staying there to evacuate to higher ground before returning roughly two hours later.

Reports also surfaced of leaks, with rainwater dripping through the roofs of some Asian Games stadiums.

South Korea's men's basketball team, which arrived in Nagoya on the 7th and is staying at the container accommodations, faced disruptions to their training ahead of their group-stage opening match against Saudi Arabia tomorrow.

An official from the basketball association stated, "Fortunately, our accommodation was unharmed and everything is fine," but added, "Today's scheduled training sessions for all men's basketball teams, including our national team, have been cancelled."

Despite the damage that temporarily paralyzed urban functions, the city of Nagoya maintains that there are no issues with operating the Games.

Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa stated, "While there was limited damage such as water leaking from some buildings, the delegations are safe and the stadium facilities have not suffered serious blows," adding, "Given the current situation, there are no obstacles to holding the Games as scheduled."

Featuring over 11,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries, this Asian Games will officially open on the 19th, while preliminary matches for certain sports, including basketball, are set to begin on the 10th.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecasted intermittent rain to continue across Aichi Prefecture, the host region, through the 10th, necessitating preparations against additional damage.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.