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Stephy Zhang

Asian Games organisers announced they were making a final push to boost sluggish ticket sales for sports such as women’s football and baseball ahead of the opening ceremony in less than two weeks.
There was, however, better news for other sports, with Aichi governor Hideaki Omura announcing at a press conference on Tuesday that more than 60 per cent of tickets have been sold across 31 of the 41 sports.
While overall sales figures for the opening and closing ceremonies were not disclosed, 17 sports, including table tennis, badminton and volleyball, have sold more than 80 per cent of tickets, according to Japanese news outlet the Okinawa Times.
“I hope as many people as possible will come to the venues and enjoy the intense competition of these international matches,” Omura said, adding that organisers planned to release additional seats for sold-out events on a rolling basis whenever they became available.
Although organisers initially announced a planned release of 2.75 million tickets across the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in Japan, the Okinawa Times also reported that insider estimates revealed only 700,000 to 800,000 tickets had been sold by late August.
Official ticketing data showed that tickets had sold out for unique events, such as kabaddi and sepak takraw, as well as select dates for women’s volleyball and almost all dates for badminton.

Matches featuring Japanese athletes and finals have also sold particularly well.
In contrast, ticket sales for sports held in larger venues, such as baseball, judo and women’s football, remained weak, particularly for weekday qualifying rounds.
Attracting spectators to venues outside Aichi prefecture, including those in neighbouring Shizuoka and Gifu, also remained a major challenge.
Compounding the ticketing difficulties, repeated schedule changes have sparked widespread frustration among athletes and spectators.
On August 19, one month before the Games, organisers announced schedule changes for several high-profile athletic events, including the women’s 100-metre hurdles and men’s high jump, while also reducing the men’s water polo field by one team.
Under official ticketing rules, refunds are granted only if an entire event is cancelled, leaving spectators unable to refund or exchange tickets affected by schedule changes.
Local media reported that the policy triggered a backlash on Japanese social media, with fans complaining that the situation was akin to “buying a baseball ticket only to end up watching football”.
Hurdler Hitomi Nakajima, who set multiple Japanese records in the women’s 100m hurdles in August, publicly apologised on social media to fans who bought tickets early.
“I am so sorry to those who bought tickets early … I’m deeply sorry, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Runner Reiri Nakashima previously emphasised the shared responsibility of sporting events in an interview. “Sports are created jointly by organisers, athletes and spectators,” he said.

Writing on social media, Nakashima condemned the ticketing rules, calling the lack of refunds “an utterly absurd situation”.
“Unlike baseball or soccer, different track and field events are practically different sports entirely,” he wrote. “If the specific event you are interested in is moved, the entire purpose of going changes … Honestly, what they are doing is crazy.”
The organising committee explained that the schedule changes resulted from entry fluctuations following the July 1 deadline, stating the adjustments were made “to ensure an environment where athletes can compete in peak condition”.
The Games run from September 19 to October 4, bringing together more than 15,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions.
Overseas contingents have already started arriving in Japan, local media reported, including Jordan’s men’s basketball team and South Korea’s sailing team on September 6, with most arrivals expected three to four days before the opening ceremony.


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So far, 17 sports, including table tennis, badminton and volleyball, have sold more than 80 per cent of tickets. Photo: Reuters

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Japanese hurdler Hitomi Nakajima apologised to fans about schedule changes on social media. Photo: AP

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Repeated schedule changes have sparked widespread frustration among athletes and spectators, with some complaining on social media


Repeated schedule changes have sparked widespread frustration among athletes and spectators, with some complaining on social media.


Asian Games organisers in final push to boost sluggish ticket sales for football, baseball

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Repeated schedule changes have sparked widespread frustration among athletes and spectators, with some complaining on social media

Repeated schedule changes have sparked widespread frustration among athletes and spectators, with some complaining on social media