*This content was translated by AI.
Chaos erupted even before the tournament began. With the opening of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approaching, record-breaking downpours poured over the host city of Nagoya, forcing hundreds of athletes to be evacuated urgently.
According to 'AFP' and 'AP', on the 8th, a record-breaking rainfall of approximately 104mm per hour hit the Nagoya region in Japan, prompting evacuation orders for some parts of the city.
Local reports indicate that subway and bus services were temporarily suspended, and the Korea Meteorological Administration issued top-level flood warnings for major rivers in the area. About 3,500 residents were forced to flee to emergency shelters.
The surprise heavy rain also directly impacted the Asian Games participating teams. This tournament is not designating a separate dedicated athlete village but is instead utilizing cruise ships, existing hotels, and temporary wooden container accommodations in a distributed manner. Around 400 athletes and officials staying in temporary container accommodations set up near Nagoya Port were evacuated urgently to higher ground as the risk of flooding increased. The evacuation order was lifted after about two hours, allowing all team members to return safely to their accommodations, and fortunately, no casualties occurred.
Alerts were also raised at various venues. Leakage from rainwater seeping through the roofs of some stadiums among dozens of venues was confirmed. With pre-opening matches for events such as basketball starting immediately on the 10th, and additional rain forecasts expected in the coming days, concerns are growing regarding stadium environmental management. Local scientists pointed out that climate change caused by human activities is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather anomalies worldwide, including in Japan.
The 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking its 20th anniversary this year, will run for 16 days from the opening ceremony on the 19th until October 4. It is expected that more than 17,000 athletes and officials will participate, exceeding the scale of the Olympics.
In response, Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa told reporters, "There were some impacts, such as rainwater leaking from certain building roofs, but this is not a serious situation to the point where the Asian Games opening ceremony would be in jeopardy." He added, "Considering the current situation, I have no concerns about stadium conditions. I believe there will be absolutely no hindrance to holding the Asian Games normally as planned."
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*This content was translated by AI.
