20th Asian Games Open in Nagoya Amid Accommodation Concerns
The continental multi-sport event began Saturday with 45 nations participating, but logistical issues and a typhoon threat overshadow the competition.
KEY POINTS
- 20th Asian Games opened in Nagoya on Sept 19 with 45 nations and 11,000+ athletes
- Nepal sends 135 athletes targeting first-ever Asian Games gold medal
- Accommodation crisis: container huts, cruise ship, hotels replace traditional village
- Typhoon threat and protocol errors (wrong anthem) mar event preparations
- Pakistan (246 athletes) and UAE (165 athletes) among major delegations
The 20th Asian Games officially opened in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, welcoming over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries for a 16-day competition across 43 sports. Japan's Emperor and Empress attended the ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, which featured a 'Harmonic Heart Beat' theme and a Blue Impulse aerobatic display.
Nepal entered the parade with 135 athletes across 42 sports, led by flag bearers boxer Chandra Bahadur Thapa and kabaddi captain Manmati Bista. The women's volleyball team was already eliminated after a 3-0 loss to Japan on Wednesday, while karate medal hope Arika Gurung skipped the ceremony to prepare for competition.
“The event in 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 dogged by a series of problems in the lead-up.”
Pakistan fielded a 246-strong delegation led by cricket captain Fatima Sana and squash player Noor Zaman. The UAE also highlighted its 165-member contingent during the parade of nations at the 30,000-capacity venue.
Organizers face mounting criticism over accommodation after opting for hotels, a cruise ship, and container-style huts instead of a traditional athletes' village. Athletes reported cramped rooms, short beds, transport failures, and long waits at airports.
A record deluge flooded parts of Nagoya last week, and an approaching typhoon threatens further disruption. Additionally, North Korea's anthem was mistakenly played for South Korea's men's hockey team in a protocol error.
Nepal, which has never won an Asian Games gold in over seven decades of participation, targets its first gold and double-digit medals under its 'Mission 26' plan. The first gold of the Games is expected Sunday in men's triathlon.
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