{
  "id": 8195374,
  "title": "Athletes 'can't take it any more' as Asian Games issues mount",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/athletes-cant-take-it-any-more-as-asian-games-issues-mount",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T07:02:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/09/1535454/athletes-cant-take-it-any-more-asian-games-issues-mount"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture, Japan, are facing increasing complaints about poor organization as the continental sporting event begins on Saturday. Issues include a shortage of accommodation for more than 17,000 athletes and officials, surpassing the numbers for the Olympics. Some teams have criticized the quality of the housing, with beds described as too short. The Olympics-inspired Games are being hosted in hotels, temporary cabins, and a cruise ship, rather than a dedicated athletes' village.\n\nWorld champion gymnast Zhang Boheng, who earned two silver medals at the Paris Olympics and holds two world championship titles, expressed exhaustion after a six-hour wait upon arrival on Wednesday. He stated that breakfast at 7:00 am was his last meal until around 7:00 pm, due to registration and paperwork delays. The lengthy wait forced him to book a hotel room for rest, frustrated by the wasted day.\n\nChinese state media reported that other Chinese athletes also encountered travel delays upon arrival, with Beijing's consulate providing lifts for the badminton team due to shuttle bus and public transport shortages. Chinese social media users praised athletes like table tennis star Sun Yingsha for stretching and exercising at the airport in response to transport troubles. The hashtag \"Asian Games absurd\" gained over 94 million views on Weibo.\n\nIndia's team faced similar delays at the airport, with long queues and extensive questioning upon immigration. Chef de mission Sahdev Yadav acknowledged these issues as \"teething problems\" but emphasized the focus on athletes' performance moving forward. South Korea lodged a complaint with Games organizers after athletes waited over five hours at the airport, including a Japanese warlord dressed as historical figure Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi's presence during the welcoming ceremony sparked backlash in South Korea, as his invasions of Korea (1592-1598) are a significant historical event. The Olympic Council of Asia and the local organizing committee have not yet responded to the controversy.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: The Asian Games in Japan were on Friday facing more accusations of poor organisation with a world champion gymnast “totally exhausted“, the public drafted in to rescue stranded athletes and South Korea lodging a complaint about a Japanese warlord.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "By the numbers: A look at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/by-the-numbers-a-look-at-the-asian-games-in-nagoya-japan",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:41:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Japan’s manufacturing hub Aichi bets on Asian Games to drive growth despite soaring costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/japans-manufacturing-hub-aichi-bets-on-asian-games-to-drive-growth",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:36:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asian Games offer tough test as Malaysia chase six gold medals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/asian-games-offer-tough-test-as-malaysia-chase-six-gold-medals",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:36:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "India not a sporting superpower, but can make presence felt at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/india-not-a-sporting-superpower-but-can-make-presence-felt-at-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:41:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Japan targets medal haul at home Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/japan-targets-medal-haul-at-home-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-18T06:37:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "India women's team chase Japan's target in just 30 balls at 2026 Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/india-womens-team-chase-japans-target-in-just-30-balls-at-2026-asian",
        "published": "2026-09-18T07:49:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}