NAGOYA: The 20th Asian Games will officially open in Japan on Saturday with a spectacular opening ceremony, after a troubled build-up to the multi-sport event that has attracted more participants than the Olympics.
The first gold medal is expected to be awarded on Sunday morning, likely in the men’s individual triathlon, with 468 more golds to be contested across 45 sports before the Games conclude on October 4.
The event, which offers qualification opportunities for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in several sports, features a host of international stars but has faced a series of organisational challenges.
Around 17,000 athletes and officials are taking part, placing significant pressure on organisers as they arranged accommodation for the participants.
In a cost-cutting move, organisers have not built a traditional athletes’ village. Competitors are instead staying in temporary container-style accommodation, hotels and the cruise ship Costa Serena.
The Games have also been affected by extreme weather. Heavy rainfall last week flooded parts of Nagoya, while a typhoon approaching eastern Japan could disrupt events and transport.
Some athletes were reportedly stranded at the airport after transport failed to arrive, while several teams raised concerns about the quality of the temporary accommodation, including beds that were too short.
Forecasters said the typhoon could reach Japan’s main island, where Nagoya is located, on Sunday or Monday.
Despite the difficulties, organisers have described the latest edition of the Games, first held in 1951, as an event that will be among the most spectacular in generations.
Several sports, including basketball, football and cricket, have already begun ahead of the opening ceremony.
Traditional Olympic sports such as athletics and swimming will feature alongside popular Asian disciplines including sepak takraw and kabaddi. The programme also includes eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling as organisers seek to attract younger audiences.
Padel and mixed martial arts (MMA) will make their Asian Games debuts.
Prodigies and Olympic Champions
Among the competitors are Philippine tennis star Alexandra Eala, 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.
Yu is scheduled to compete on Sunday in the heats of the women’s 200-metre butterfly.
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, will also compete after her eligibility became the subject of a major gender controversy at the Olympics.
Hosts Japan will rely on Olympic champions including gymnast Shinnosuke Oka and javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi.
North Korea is sending more than 100 athletes across 14 sports, while China is once again expected to field the largest contingent. China won 201 gold medals and 383 medals overall at the Covid-delayed 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
China has sent more than 800 athletes to Nagoya, including 36 Olympic champions.
India’s cricket team, featuring teenage batsman Sooryavanshi, will also be looking to make an impression ahead of cricket’s return to the Olympic programme at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
India could face arch-rivals Pakistan in the cricket final at Nagoya’s newly built venue, although weather conditions could affect the schedule.
