After two weeks of youthful brilliance on the field amid logistical dysfunction and subdued public interest off it, the curtain has come down on the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Sunday, with the torch handed to organisers of the next event in Doha, Qatar, in 2030. Some 17,000 athletes and officials came for the Aichi-Nagoya showpiece – more than the participants in the Paris Olympics – with athletes competing in 469 gold-medal events spanning Tokyo to Osaka.
The massive scale clashed with organisers’ planning for a “simple, streamlined and functional event” — and the results were often chaotic. Athletes and teams complained of bungled accommodation and transport, prompting repeated apologies from the embarrassed organising committee. Despite the challenges, the games were lifted by the performances of teenage titans, led by China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi.
Awarded the female Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the games, Yu is on track for a huge Los Angeles Olympics after claiming three individual gold medals in the Tokyo pool. She swam the second-fastest time in winning the 200 metres individual medley, setting up a battle royale with Canada’s world-record holder Summer McIntosh. Her 19-year-old teammate Zhang Zhanshuo became the first swimmer to win seven golds at the games, while Japan’s 17-year-old wunderkind Shin Ohashi smashed the 200m breaststroke world record.
Track and field events were lit up by young athletes as well, with China’s 18-year-old Yan Ziyi producing a world-class throw to win the women’s javelin gold while 20-year-old Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson swept the 100m and 200m to become the men’s MVP. The athletes performed despite regular logistical failures and occasional diplomatic gaffes. Organisers opted to house athletes and officials in a mix of hotels, wooden container units and a cruise ship to cut costs rather than build a dedicated athletes’ village.
They budgeted for 15,000 athletes and officials — about 2,000 fewer than total registrations — and struggled to manage them. Waves of athletes spent up to 12 hours waiting to be registered on arrival. While checking in, some found their rooms double-booked or being shared by the wrong teammates.
Transport problems dogged the games throughout, with athletes’ shuttle buses failing to turn up or taking them to the wrong venues. Several competitions were delayed due to these errors. South Korea’s delegation was particularly aggrieved, with their team chef de mission marking the games’ organisation with an “F”, the lowest grade.
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