{
  "id": 8613205,
  "title": "Typhoon put people off Asian Games opening ceremony, official says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/typhoon-put-people-off-asian-games-opening-ceremony-official-says",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T04:25:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/09/1536798/typhoon-put-people-asian-games-opening-ceremony-official-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA: Typhoon warnings may have contributed to the empty seats observed during the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya, organisers revealed on Sunday. The stadium, with a capacity of 30,000, commenced the continent's premier sporting event on Saturday, attended by Japan's emperor and empress. Fireworks marked the conclusion of the event, yet while certain areas of the arena were packed, others had noticeably vacant seats. Husain Al-Musallam, the Olympic Council of Asia's director general, disclosed that they had to keep one block empty due to the Games flame. \"This is one part,\" he told reporters. \"Plus, more than 70 percent of tickets were sold.\" However, this contrasted with an announcement at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium that the ceremony was sold out. Al-Musallam added, \"But maybe, if you remember, it was a typhoon warning coming to Nagoya and at the last minute the typhoon shifted.\" Consequently, the organizers asked the same question that had been repeatedly posed: \"What happens if the typhoon comes?\" The typhoon, which had earlier been viewed as a potential threat to the Games, actually had a more significant impact in the Tokyo region, where heavy rain was forecast on Sunday, affecting some Games events such as swimming. There is forecasted wet weather for Nagoya later on Sunday and Monday.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA: Warnings of a typhoon partly explained why the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya took place in front of thousands of empty seats, organisers said Sunday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "China's 13-year-old Yu cruises as Asian Games swimming begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/chinas-13-year-old-yu-cruises-as-asian-games-swimming-begins",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:29:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "China’s 13-year-old Yu cruises as Asian Games swimming begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/chinas-13-year-old-yu-cruises-as-asian-games-swimming-begins-8604692",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:29:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "China's 13-year-old Yu cruises as Asian Games swimming begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/chinas-13-year-old-yu-cruises-as-asian-games-swimming-begins-8603827",
        "published": "2026-09-20T03:36:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Asian Games: India win first medal, clinch women’s 10m air rifle team silver",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/asian-games-india-win-first-medal-clinch-womens-10m-air-rifle-team",
        "published": "2026-09-20T04:04:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "India open Asian Games shooting campaign with silver in women's 10m air rifle",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/india-open-asian-games-shooting-campaign-with-silver-in-womens-10m",
        "published": "2026-09-20T04:32:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}