Nagoya Asian Games organising committee chair apologises for transport and operational failures
In short
The organising committee of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games apologised at a joint press conference with the Olympic Council of Asia in Nagoya on 4 October for repeated failures in athlete transport. Committee chair and Aichi governor Hideaki Omura said he had deliberately not commented during the Games and waited until the wrap-up. Problems reported during the event included a technical system failure, a wrongly played national anthem that drew a South Korean protest, and shuttle scheduling errors that delayed competitions.
Why it matters
The apology is the latest in a series of public acknowledgements by Japanese organisers after an event marked by logistics and technical problems, as reported by Jiemian. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua also carried the apology, indicating the failures drew attention beyond the host country.
Key facts
- The Olympic Council of Asia and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organising committee held a joint summary press conference in Nagoya on 4 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Committee chair and Aichi governor Hideaki Omura apologised for repeated mistakes in athlete transport, saying organisers had reflected seriously on them. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Omura said it was his first press conference since the Games opened, and that he considered commenting personally during the event inappropriate. [ 1 ]
- Reported problems included a failure in the competition technical system, a wrongly played national anthem that prompted a protest from the South Korean side, and shuttle bus scheduling errors that delayed competitions. [ 1 ]
- Nagoya mayor Ichiro Hirosawa and committee officials had previously apologised publicly, and Japanese Olympic Committee president Seiko Hashimoto apologised on 3 October. [ 1 ]
- Omura said the organisation and operation of the Games had been a major challenge, with unexpected problems dealt with daily. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which specific incidents Omura addressed in his answers beyond athlete transport. Jiemian says reporters kept raising operational questions but does not give his responses on each incident.
- The exact time of the 4 October press conference and how long it lasted. Only the publication times of the two reports are given.
- How many athletes were affected by the transport and scheduling failures, or what compensation was offered. The documents give no figures or details.
- Any response from the South Korean side or from the Olympic Council of Asia on the anthem incident. Only Jiemian mentions the South Korean protest, and no reaction is reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Japanese Olympic Committee president Seiko Hashimoto apologises over problems at the Games at a summary press conference. [ 1 ]
- The Olympic Council of Asia and the organising committee hold a joint summary press conference in Nagoya; chair Hideaki Omura apologises for athlete transport failures. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Jiemian publishes its report on the press conference and apology. [ 1 ]
- Xinhua publishes its report on the apology. [ 2 ]