Typhoon put people off Asian Games opening ceremony, says official

The opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, faced empty seats due to a looming typhoon, according to official sources. The 30,000-capacity Paloma Mizuho Stadium, with a seating capacity of 30,000, saw parts filled but also notable empty sections during the event. Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam explained the situation, stating that a portion of the arena remained empty due to the Games flame and the possibility of the typhoon's impact.

While over 70% of tickets were sold, this discrepancy raised questions about the effect of the typhoon warning on attendance. The typhoon, initially anticipated to pose a threat to Nagoya, shifted at the last minute, impacting the Tokyo region instead. Despite the announcement of a sold-out ceremony, the actual attendance was significantly lower, with no rainfall during the event. However, heavy rain was forecasted for Tokyo, affecting some swimming events.