Asian Games service disruptions? Malaysian team managers get backup plan

NAGOYA, Sept 17 — The National Sports Council (NSC) has strengthened its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for transport and food provision in anticipation of possible service disruptions during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, the council announced today. The revised SOP, designed to safeguard the operations and welfare of the Malaysian contingent, was implemented following several reported issues that could potentially disrupt the Games.

Under the new guidelines, team managers are now empowered to take decisive action if transport or food services fail to meet the team's needs. If vehicles provided by the organizers experience delays of over an hour, potentially affecting the team's movement, team managers may utilize e-hailing services as an alternative, provided the rates are reasonable and the use is deemed necessary.

In the event that food supplied by the organizers proves insufficient or unavailable, the NSC will provide Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals as a substitute. If these meals remain inadequate, team managers will have the authority to procure alternative food based on the specific requirements of their teams. All instances of using alternative transport or purchasing alternative food must be meticulously documented, supported by original receipts or proof of payment, to ensure proper record-keeping and reimbursement.

It is emphasized that this SOP serves as a precautionary measure, not intended to replace the transport and food facilities already provided by the organizers.