Asian Games chaos puts Japan’s future Olympic ambitions under fresh scrutiny as experts warn trust damaged

NAGOYA, Oct 4 — Japan's image as a dependable host for major sporting events has been marred by the Asian Games, which experienced numerous organizational challenges. Athletes were taken to the wrong venues, South Korean hockey players heard the North Korean national anthem, and there were not enough accommodations for the 17,000+ athletes and officials present.

Many nations complained of being stranded at the airport for up to six hours. Critics, such as Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, have given the Games an F grade. Meanwhile, Japan's Olympic Committee president, Seiko Hashimoto, acknowledged "many problems" but expressed a desire to host more international events in the future.

Hirokazu Arai, a sports psychology expert, warned that Japan may struggle to regain trust in the eyes of the international community, should it seek to host the Olympics again. "If Japan were to bid for the Olympics again, trust in Japan may have fallen and it might be harder to win a bid," he said. "And within Japan, people may take the view that if these kinds of things are going to happen, we don’t need the Olympics."

The aftermath of Japan's hosting of the Tokyo Olympics, marred by graft and Covid-19 delays, has left the public questioning the value of hosting major sporting events. While some praised Japan's ability to deliver the Games despite these challenges, others worry that the recent Asian Games may reawaken public skepticism.