Athletes criticise organisational, logistical mishaps at ‘sad’ Asian Games

What the report says

Athletes at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya have criticized a string of organisational and logistical problems that have overshadowed competition at the event, which opened on September 19 and is being hosted across venues in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, and some other Japanese cities. According to Al Jazeera, complaints included teams being sent to the wrong venues, shuttle buses failing to arrive on time, short turnaround times between matches, and accommodation problems that left some competitors frustrated and tired.

Among the incidents highlighted were India’s PV Sindhu saying she had to play three badminton matches in 18 hours, Pakistan’s volleyball team being taken to the wrong gymnasium before a preliminary match, and South Korea’s men’s basketball team missing practice because of transport delays. Organisers also faced criticism over lodging arrangements after admitting there had been mistakes in housing and transport, with some athletes placed in hotels, temporary units or on a cruise ship rather than a traditional village.

Weather has added to the disruption. Rain in recent days affected tennis, surfing and cricket, with some matches washed out and others delayed or rescheduled. In men’s cricket, Pakistan-Hong Kong and India-Afghanistan quarterfinals were abandoned, sending Pakistan and India through on rankings. Al Jazeera reported that officials apologised for the early problems and said they were working to improve conditions, but several athletes still described the Games experience as disappointing and below expectations.