Japanese media call Nagoya Asian Games 'worst ever' amid mounting chaos

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — Japan's first since the 1994 Hiroshima edition — has been engulfed in controversy over accommodation, transportation and catering problems, drawing criticism even within the host country.

Tokyo Sports reported Tuesday that officials involved in running the Games have been heard lamenting that the event is "so bad it is hard to believe it is being held in Japan."

The outlet quoted a source in the major events industry as saying that while past international competitions held in Japan had their shortcomings, "this Games has far exceeded that level."

"At this rate, there is a real possibility that this Games will go down in history as the worst Asian Games ever," the source added.

Tokyo Sports pointed to the absence of Japan's major event agencies as a root cause of the disarray. With experienced domestic agencies sidelined, the organizing committee — centered on Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya city — lacked the capacity to anticipate or respond to problems, the report said.

"The move to exclude major agencies has ended up backfiring," Tokyo Sports said.

The agencies were pushed out in the wake of the Tokyo Olympics corruption scandal. Dentsu, Japan's largest advertising firm, was indicted in February 2023 along with other companies on charges of bid-rigging related to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Dentsu was also suspended from bidding on projects commissioned by the Japanese government and on contracts with the Tokyo metropolitan and Osaka prefectural governments. The scandal was compounded by a separate case in which a Tokyo Olympics organizing committee board member was found to have accepted bribes in exchange for selecting sponsors.

The void left by the domestic agencies was filled by GL Events, an event management company headquartered in Lyon, France. The firm took charge of designing 58 venues, installing temporary facilities, setting up media zones, managing accreditation and overseeing medal ceremonies.

GL Events previously worked on the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, the Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It also operates Aichi Sky Expo, the largest exhibition center in Aichi Prefecture.

Tokyo Sports quoted a Games official as saying that when staff flagged problems and offered suggestions, GL Events would respond by saying, "This is our domain," and refuse to listen.

One volunteer said: "I am so sorry about all the operational problems. I have no idea why a French company was brought in to begin with."

Some foreign media outlets also reported that GL Events' Japanese subsidiary became embroiled in a payment dispute with subcontractors during construction of overseas pavilions at last year's Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The organizing committee had originally decided against building an athletes' village, citing cost savings and sustainability, instead distributing delegations among cruise ships, container-style accommodations and hotels. But total spending for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games combined has surpassed about 370 billion yen ($2.35 billion) — more than three times the original budget — according to the Mainichi Shimbun.

South Korean athletes were also affected. The men's basketball team had to cancel a training session Sunday morning when no vehicle arrived to take them to the practice facility, and the delegation was left waiting for buses again Monday on the way home. Some sports teams arranged their own outside accommodations rather than use those provided by the organizing committee.

The Olympic Council of Asia and the organizing committee said they have set up a round-the-clock support center to handle remaining complaints.

The Games run through Oct. 4.