Japan emperor declares 20th Asian Games open
Aichi Prefecture: The 20th Asian Games were declared open by Japan’s emperor on Saturday, following a troubled build-up to the multi-sport spectacle that features more athletes than the Olympics.
There were a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya, where a subdued crowd saw a colourful opening ceremony on a heart-shaped stage. Japan’s Emperor and Empress were given a respectful reception as they took their seats alongside International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry.
There was polite applause when Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open. The first gold medal will be won on Sunday morning, likely in the men’s individual triathlon, as the continent’s finest athletes compete in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on Oct 4.
The event in the Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs in seven sports, and will be graced by global stars and fast-rising prodigies.
But it has been laden with a series of organisational hiccups in the lead-up to the opening, as more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials stretched the organisers to the limit as they tried to accommodate all.
To save on costs, there is no traditional athletes’ village; competitors are instead staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship The Costa Serena. Several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including complaints about the beds being too short. Some athletes were also left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up.
There was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya, and a typhoon now approaching eastern Japan threatens further disruption in the coming days. In the latest mishap, North Korea’s national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea’s men’s hockey team.
