Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Committee Defends Operations Despite Complaints: "Athletes Didn't Show Up"

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee has stated that various operational issues raised regarding accommodation, transportation, living, and training environments are "not to the extent of disrupting the competition."

Yuta Matsuo, deputy director-general of accommodation for the organizing committee, addressed the operational issues raised by various national delegations during a briefing held on September 24 at the Main Press Center in Nagoya, Japan.

He claimed, "We are taking the voices of each national delegation seriously and responding to them," adding, "We are operating the Games with a properly established system capable of responding flexibly to the demands of each delegation."

The organizing committee reiterated its stance that it is responding with its utmost effort to accommodation issues, particularly athletes' complaints regarding substandard container housing.

Regarding the pointing out that the beds are too short for tall athletes, such as basketball players, to lie down, he answered, "We were aware that there are athletes with large physiques. We received and reflected many opinions from the initial design stage, and equipped each bed with an extension device called an ottoman."

Regarding transportation issues, he claimed, "The demands of each national delegation vary. Some delegations request changes to shuttle operations late at night, causing confusion," and added, "Situations different from our expectations occur depending on the nationality or customs of the delegations, but we are responding promptly in a Japanese manner."

He also added, "If a situation arises where vehicle dispatch is difficult, we provide good guidance," and "There were also places where buses were dispatched, but the athletes did not show up."

This explanation seems to attribute the cause of transportation problems to the demands and response methods of certain national delegations.

Japanese media outlet Tokyo Sports also reported on related remarks, stating, "Cooperation and consideration from athletes are necessary for smooth shuttle bus operations."

However, transportation problems that are difficult to explain solely by the carelessness of the delegations have been occurring one after another on site.

The South Korean men's basketball national team failed to train because the shuttle bus did not arrive ahead of their final match against Japan, and the football national team experienced setbacks in training due to a shuttle bus driver's mistake causing them to travel to the wrong location.

As shuttle bus allocation for the baseball national team did not run smoothly, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) secured external shuttle buses at its own expense.

The Vietnamese women's volleyball national team experienced a situation on their first day of entry where the shuttle bus dropped them off at the wrong hotel, forcing the delegation to drag heavy luggage and walk to their accommodation.

Ahead of the placement matches, shuttle buses arrived 1 hour and 30 minutes later than scheduled, delaying match times.

Media shuttles, which are severely lacking, also frequently operate differently from notices or fail to appear altogether.

Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, met with domestic reporters on September 24 and pointed out the organizing committee's response, which is detached from reality, stating, "Making excuses is undesirable," and "Although it is getting better than the early days of the competition, the operation of the Games is a failing grade of 'F'. If such problems continue to occur, I think this is serious incompetence."

The Thai delegation also expressed strong dissatisfaction.

Chalitrat Chandrubeksa, deputy secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, said in an interview with AFP on September 24, "Problems have continued from the beginning until now," and "The number of cruise ships and hotel rooms does not match the actual size of the delegation. We are directly finding alternative accommodations to solve the problem, and we are also taking care of meals separately. We are paying for all of this ourselves."

He added, "Due to accommodation problems, our medical staff is staying about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Nagoya," and stated, "It is truly chaotic."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.