appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Josh Ball

Organisers tried to put a chaotic build-up to the Asian Games behind them on Saturday with a sparkling opening ceremony in Nagoya, although not even an acrobatic aerial display by Japan’s Blue Impulse team could silence the criticism swirling over their heads.
Barely a day has gone by over the past week where complaints have not been made about the state of official accommodation, transport, venues and some of the other facilities being used for the Games.
Just hours before Japan’s royal family and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry took their seats at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Joaan ‌bin Hamad ‌Al Thani did his best to smooth things over by saying he thought everything was “hopefully back on track”.
The governing body’s director general Husain Al-Musallam, meanwhile, defended the hosts for trying to do something different when it came to an athletes’ village, which in reality is a 4,000-berth cruise ship and containers converted into rooms.
“Everyone talks about the cost of the Games and how the Games should be managed, and then Japan comes up with a new idea and tries something where there is no athletes’ village,” he said, adding the OCA did not want the host nation to “lose their money for nothing”.
India had gone so far as to build container homes for its 500 athletes to live in as they trained at home ahead of the Games, but even their officials had had enough by Saturday, and were reportedly preparing to send some members of the delegation to stay with Indian citizens living nearby.

Sahdev Yadav, the country’s chef de mission for the Games, said athletes had already been moved to hotels, but if there was a shortfall “Indian households here are on standby to accommodate” them.
And hanging over every criticism, real or implied, are the memories of three years ago, when China built a small town to house everyone who had descended on Hangzhou, and then racked up 149 more gold medals than their Japanese rivals.
Politics will not stay out of the Games, no matter how much the OCA’s president believes neither it nor politicians “should be involved in sports”.
But it did at least take a back seat for a couple of hours on Saturday, when attention turned to the athletes who will be competing over the next fortnight, although they will be hoping for a larger and livelier crowd than the one that turned up to welcome them to the Games.
Famed Japanese filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi had been handed the task of pulling together an event with the theme Harmonic Heart Beat, and said he was “incredibly proud” that the city where his own “creative journey began” was involved.
Even the main stage was heart-shaped, and the parade of athletes followed a welcoming performance that “awakened the space” if not the audience.
China’s vast delegation was led into the stadium by basketball player Hu Mingxuan and boxer Wu Yu, with the latter incredibly excited by the “weighty honour” before she was hit by “some nerves and some anticipation”.
After the hosts, they received the largest round of applause when they entered the 30,000-seat venue, which will also stage the athletics and the closing ceremony on October 4.

Ivan Yang, who alongside Lydia Sham carried Hong Kong’s flag in soon after, said he had been left “shocked, speechless” at being chosen.
Perhaps cognisant of the many hurdles still to come, Sheikh Joaan’s message in his speech was one of unity.
“Tonight, the eyes of Asia – and indeed much of the world – turn to Japan,” he said. “What we will see over the next days will inspire us. It will move us. And it will remind us of what we are capable of when we come together for Asia.”
There was polite applause soon after, when Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open, and the heart-shaped cauldron was lit soon after by hammer-throwing father and son Shigenobu Murofushi, who won five consecutive Asian Games golds from 1970, and Koji Murofushi, who became Japan’s first Olympic medallist in a throwing event when he claimed gold in Athens in 2004.
The first title of this year’s Games will be decided early on Sunday, most likely in the men’s triathlon, where local hero Kenji Nener will be defending his title, and Hong Kong’s Oscar Coggins will be hoping for a little redemption after his mid-race meltdown in 2023.


Asian Games, day 1: Japan triathlete Hojo wins first gold; Elg and Coggins also-rans

Asian Games open with sparkling ceremony, message of unity following chaotic build-up

Asian Games: from teen swimmers to titans of tennis, 5 stars set to shine in Japan

Postcard from Nagoya: Asian Games opening hour nears, but teething problems remain

Asian Games 2026

The opening ceremony turned attention to the athletes who will be competing over the next fortnight, including the delegation from Hong Kong. Photo: Robert Ng

The opening ceremony was created by famed Japanese filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Photo: Sam Tsang

China received the second largest round of applause after the hosts. Photo: Robert Ng

Alexandra Eala has opted to skip the mandatory China Open to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games. Photo: AFP

Ceci Lee (right) is hoping to claim gold in the omnium. Photo: Eugene Lee

Alexandra Eala claimed her first tour title at the Washington Open. Photo: AFP

Yu Zidi is already being touted as a future Olympic swimming champion. Photo: AFP

Amanda Yap is Singapore’s first balance beam world championships finalist. Photo: Getty Images

Oscar Coggins secured bronze at the National Games last year. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong’s Yim Wing-ni (red) in action during a women’s volleyball preliminary match against Qatar. Some events at this year’s Asian Games started days before the opening ceremony, while others are almost over. Photo: Sam Tsang

The Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya will stage the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics. Photo: AP

Sport

Other Sport

Japan’s royal family and IOC president among those in attendance at a subdued Paloma Mizuho Stadium to watch show created by Yukihiko Tsutsumi


Japan’s royal family and IOC president among those in attendance at a subdued Paloma Mizuho Stadium to watch show created by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.


Oscar Coggins

Emperor Naruhito

Asian Games open with sparkling ceremony, message of unity following chaotic build-up

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Japan’s royal family and IOC president among those in attendance at a subdued Paloma Mizuho Stadium to watch show created by Yukihiko Tsutsumi

Japan’s royal family and IOC president among those in attendance at a subdued Paloma Mizuho Stadium to watch show created by Yukihiko Tsutsumi