TOKYO:
Japanese organisers admit public consciousness of the Asian Video games in Aichi-Nagoya “must be increased” as they appear to ramp up curiosity with Friday marking a yr to go till the beginning of the sporting spectacular.
The pandemic-delayed 2023 version in Hangzhou, China, featured about 12,000 athletes — the largest Asian Video games in historical past boasting extra opponents than the Olympics.
Hosts Japan hope subsequent yr’s occasion, when athletes will keep on a “floating village” cruise ship and in transformed delivery containers, will make an identical splash.
Kazuhiro Yagi, vice-secretary normal of the Aichi-Nagoya Video games organising committee, instructed AFP that pleasure was nonetheless muted however he’s assured it can construct over the approaching 12 months.
“Public consciousness of the Video games must be increased,” he stated.
“It is partly as a result of they’re nonetheless a yr away and partly as a result of worldwide sporting occasions just like the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup will likely be held earlier than then.
“However we can’t watch for these occasions to complete, we’ll be proactive in getting the message on the market,” he added.
About 15,000 athletes and officers are anticipated on the Video games, that are happening within the metropolis of Nagoya and the broader Aichi area from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
To chop prices, organisers plan to accommodate some members on a luxurious cruise liner and others in momentary shelters produced from delivery containers.
On Saturday, organisers will launch the countdown to the Video games with exhibition occasions together with BMX and three-on-three basketball.
‘Final stage’
Competitors venues are unfold far and large, with swimming happening in Tokyo, virtually 350 kilometres (220 miles) from Nagoya.
The principle venue for the Video games would be the Nagoya Metropolis Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, which is scheduled to open in March subsequent yr with a capability of 30,000.
Yagi stated preparations for the occasion have been “progressing easily”.
“We are going to proceed to speed up preparations throughout all areas to supply Asia’s main athletes with the last word stage for peak efficiency,” he stated.
The Asian Video games function an eclectic mixture of occasions, with regional sports activities corresponding to sepak takraw and kabaddi alongside conventional Olympic disciplines athletics and swimming.
Blended martial arts will make their Asian Video games debut as organisers look to draw a youthful era of followers.
Browsing can be included for the primary time, whereas board video games corresponding to bridge and chess have been axed together with dragon boat racing.
Esports will once more function following its runaway success in Hangzhou, the place followers packed right into a futuristic 4,500-seat area to observe star avid gamers like South Korea’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.
Cricket has additionally been retained and a everlasting floor is to be constructed to go away a legacy for the game in baseball-obsessed Japan.
‘World consideration’
China topped the medal desk in Hangzhou, successful greater than double the quantity of medals than second-placed Japan with virtually 4 instances as many golds.
A number of athletes who topped the rostrum went on to triumph ultimately yr’s Paris Olympics, together with Chinese language tennis star Zheng Qinwen and swimmer Pan Zhanle.
Twelve-year-old Chinese language swimmer Yu Zidi has been tipped to be one of many breakout stars in Aichi-Nagoya after changing into the youngest medallist in world championships historical past in July.
Yu and others will use the Asian Video games as an essential stepping stone to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
After followers have been largely locked out of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Asian Video games organisers will likely be hoping the Japanese public snap up tickets for Aichi-Nagoya.
The World Athletics Championships are presently happening in Tokyo and Yagi believes they may whet appetites for followers to expertise extra stay sport.
“The worldwide consideration the occasion will get will present a possibility to showcase Japan’s sporting tradition and construct anticipation for the Asian Video games,” he stated.
