"If this continues, we will be branded as the worst in history." A miserable AG, but is it Korean media's fault?... Criticism also pouring in from Japan

*This content was translated by AI.

"If things continue like this, it will be branded as the worst sports event ever held in Japan."

A reporter from a Japanese media outlet covering the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games said this. Criticism of the event's organization is also intensifying within Japan itself.

On the 25th, the Japanese media Daily Shincho reported that "the 'press conference filled only with excuses' by the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee, which has been plagued by troubles, is receiving harsh criticism," and added that voices are even being raised saying it is "embarrassing" to direct resentment toward Korean media.

As the Asian Games proceed, complaints about the organization's repeated incompetence continue to surface daily. However, a bigger problem lies in the Organizing Committee's lack of awareness. The media evaluated the committee's press conference as "horrific."

The media reported that reporters covering the event are expressing frustration with the Organizing Committee, stating that "the public relations system was a complete mess from the start."

Even the process of applying for game coverage is not proceeding smoothly. As already revealed by many media outlets, there have been continuous issues such as playing the wrong national anthem, leaks in container-style accommodations, errors in bus scheduling, and complaints about meals.

The problem lies in the perception that "the Organizing Committee is not making any effort to respond on its own." A reporter from a major Japanese newspaper expressed frustration by saying, "There is a limit to delayed responses," noting that even when complaints or inquiries are made, the response speed is far too slow.

Even the content of those responses has drawn complaints for being nothing but excuses. Regarding the Organizing Committee's press conference, it was reported that "in summary, they seemed to want to say, 'Many reports have come out, but we are doing things properly,' and 'The fault lies with you (the athletes).'"

Earlier, regarding the incident where the South Korean men's basketball team's bus did not arrive on time and missed their final training session, the committee admitted "there were some mistakes," yet also explained that "when foreign teams change their transportation schedules, the rule sets a deadline of 3 p.m., so they seemed to be shifting responsibility onto the athletes by claiming 'rule violations are rampant.'"

Regarding the appeal from a Thai Sepak Takraw player who had to sleep on the street due to inefficient accommodation procedures, the committee explained that "athletes who submitted the required pre-arrival documents on time are being assigned accommodations smoothly without any obstacles," and emphasized that "the cause is rule violations by teams making requests that go against regulations, such as claiming the accommodation assignment list was wrong or asking for athletes not on the list to be added."

During a hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh, the Organizing Committee mistakenly played the national anthem of North Korea. While acknowledging it as "a serious mistake that should never have happened," they rushed to make excuses by stating, "As per our pre-prepared plans, things are basically functioning normally."

Even Omi Takaki, Deputy Director of the Organizing Committee's Secretariat, made remarks bordering on resentment toward Korean media outlets pointing out such lack of preparation. While saying, "The national anthem mix-up was truly an incident that should never have happened, and I consider it a hugely significant matter," he also stated, "Regarding other issues, similar incidents occur to some extent in other countries as well, and I wonder if they are being reported continuously, including the national anthem mix-up." This remark sparked controversy.

In response, a reporter in Japan said, "Although they refuted claims of 'some false reports' while being conscious of Korean media, it is true that they committed a fatal error by playing the national anthem of a country with which they have long been in tense relations. Complaints about accommodation and transportation are also coming from countries other than South Korea." The reporter added, "It appears they are trying to downplay their mistakes, which is embarrassing. This time, due to the impact of the Tokyo Olympics corruption and collusion scandal, Dentsu (then officials) resigned, but officials unanimously agree that 'if Dentsu had not been involved, such a horrific incident would not have occurred.'"

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*This content was translated by AI.