{
  "id": 10897951,
  "title": "Asian Games crowds in spotlight as 998 see hosts in 50,000 stadium",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/asian-games-crowds-in-spotlight-as-998-see-hosts-in-50-000-stadium-10897951",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T08:32:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/09/1544651/asian-games-crowds-spotlight-998-see-hosts-50000-stadium"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA: An underwhelming 998 spectators watched Japan host South Korea in the women's football semi-finals of the Asian Games at a 50,000-capacity stadium, according to a top official. The official admitted that attendance at some events was disappointing. Japanese organizers have faced criticism over ticket sales since the opening ceremony on September 19, which took place in front of thousands of empty seats in Nagoya. Rainfall from Sunday to Tuesday was cited as a factor behind the poor turnout. While some competitions drew healthy crowds, others struggled to attract fans. On Tuesday, North Korea defeated China 2-0 in front of an official attendance of 564 at the Shizuoka stadium, which hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Japan will face North Korea for the gold medal on Friday at the same venue. Takashi Yamazaki, head of ticketing, told reporters: \"Sports that are selling well are at 80 percent or 90 percent or more.\" However, he added that large venues for baseball and football, as well as athletics, had struggled from the start due to their size. Ticket sales typically increase in the final stretch, but the steady rain stalled sales, causing organizers to be more disappointed than expected. Despite selling over one million tickets for the continent's biggest sporting event, organizers in Aichi-Nagoya admitted dissatisfaction after the men's and women's 100m events took place in front of thousands of empty seats on Friday.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: Under 1,000 spectators watched Asian Games hosts Japan beat South Korea in the semi-finals of the women’s football at a 50,000-capacity stadium, with a top official admitting Wednesday that attendances at some events were “disappointing.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula comment on Alex Eala’s potential Asian Games fine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/madison-keys-and-jessica-pegula-comment-on-alex-ealas-potential-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-30T01:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "India defend Asian Games women’s Compound Archery team gold, beat China in final",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/india-defend-asian-games-womens-compound-archery-team-gold-beat-china",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:28:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Neeru Dhanda's hospital scare, 2 Asian Games golds and the 'fire' Mansher Singh saw",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/neeru-dhandas-hospital-scare-2-asian-games-golds-and-the-fire-mansher",
        "published": "2026-09-30T06:27:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(Asiad) Kwon Soon-woo exits Asian Games singles tennis in 3rd round due to injury",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/asiad-kwon-soon-woo-exits-asian-games-singles-tennis-in-3rd-round-due",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:47:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Tom Kim defies jet-lag, Kho cards ace as Asian Games golf begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/tom-kim-defies-jet-lag-kho-cards-ace-as-asian-games-golf-begins",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:54:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Singapore’s Shannon Tan leads Asian Games individual golf standings after first round",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/singapores-shannon-tan-leads-asian-games-individual-golf-standings",
        "published": "2026-09-30T10:23:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "[ASIAN GAMES] Kwon Soon-woo exits tennis singles in third round due to injury",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/asian-games-kwon-soon-woo-exits-tennis-singles-in-third-round-due-to",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:52:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}