Nagoya, October 4, 2026: The Asian Games in Japan concluded on Sunday after a fortnight of record-breaking performances by young athletes, but the 20th edition of the continental sporting spectacle was also marked by organisational problems, modest attendances and criticism from participating teams.
More than 17,000 athletes and officials gathered in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture for the Games, which featured several standout performances and 50 world records, according to Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al-Musallam.
Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi, aged just 13, emerged as one of the biggest stars of the Games, winning three gold medals in Games-record times.
The teenager won the women’s 200m butterfly and the 200m and 400m individual medley events, earning a Games MVP award for her performances.
“I don’t think I am what people describe as a prodigy,” Yu said after her remarkable campaign.
Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi, 17, also delighted the home crowd by breaking the men’s 200m breaststroke world record.
In athletics, Thailand’s 20-year-old sprinter Puripol Boonson won gold in both the 100m and 200m events and was named the men’s MVP.
The closing ceremony featured music, colour and performances before Japan formally handed over hosting duties to Doha, which will stage the 2030 Asian Games.
Organisational problems
The Games faced criticism over accommodation, transportation and event management.
Organisers had decided against a traditional athletes’ village as part of efforts to reduce costs. Participants were instead accommodated in temporary wooden units, hotels and the cruise ship Costa Serena.
Some teams complained that the temporary accommodation was cramped and that beds were too short. The large number of athletes and officials also created a shortage of beds.
One Thai Olympic official described the scramble for accommodation as being “like musical chairs”.
Transportation was another source of complaints, with some athletes’ buses failing to arrive on time or not arriving at all. Two teams were reportedly taken to the wrong venue, causing a delay to a volleyball match.
The controversy extended to event protocols after organisers mistakenly played North Korea’s national anthem for South Korea’s hockey team.
Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, gave the organisers a failing grade over the problems.
“If I were to give them a grade, it would be an F,” he said.
Sparse crowds
Attendance was another concern, with large sections of empty seats visible during the opening ceremony.
A women’s football semi-final between hosts Japan and South Korea attracted only 998 spectators at a stadium with a capacity of 50,000.
Japanese Olympic Committee President Seiko Hashimoto acknowledged that “there were many problems”, while attributing some low attendances to bad weather.
However, several events drew substantial crowds. Around 30,000 spectators watched South Korea defeat Japan 1-0 to win men’s football gold.
The medal ceremony was nevertheless marred when the South Korean flag failed to rise.
Sporting highlights
The sporting competition produced several memorable performances.
North Korean weightlifter Ri Song Gum, standing 140cm tall, set three world records in a single day on her way to gold.
Cricket also featured prominently, with India defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final to claim gold.
Japan finished second in the medal table with 83 gold medals, well behind China’s 169.
The hosts also celebrated a historic performance in esports, where 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara won gold to become the youngest Asian Games champion in history.
Several sports seeking inclusion in future Olympic programmes also made their Asian Games debuts, including padel, mixed martial arts and virtual taekwondo.
Despite the controversies, organisers said the event could serve as a template for future multi-sport competitions, while Japanese officials expressed interest in hosting more international sporting events.
