The 2026 Asian Games have hit a stumbling block just before the opening ceremony, as record rainfall battered Nagoya. The unprecedented downpour has already posed challenges for organisers ahead of the Games.
The 2026 Asian Games have faced a major setback before the opening ceremony, as record rainfall battered the host city of Nagoya on Tuesday. With the competitions beginning on Thursday, athletes have begun arriving in the host city for the quadrennial multi-sport tournament.
AichiโNagoya will welcome over 17,000 athletes for the 2026 Asian Games, a figure surpassing even the Olympics, making it one of the largest multiโsport gatherings in history. With 71 disciplines across 43 sports, a total of 469 medal events will take place.
But the record-setting rainfall in Aichi-Nagoya turned out to be a major problem before the Asian Games could even kick off.
Athletes evacuate after rain lashes Nagoya
Nagoya received about 104mm (four inches) of rainfall, and evacuation orders were issued in some parts of the city. According to AFP, rainwater seeped into some competition venues, and forecasts suggest the wet weather will persist in the coming days.
A Nagoya Port Authority official told sources that hundreds of athletes lodging in the city’s Garden Pier area were told to move to safety, the same area where the wooden containers were placed. But they returned to their accommodation after the evacuation order was lifted two hours later.
More from SportsNotably, the 2026 Asian Games does not have a dedicated athletes’ village this year. Instead, the organisers relied on temporary wooden containers, hotels and a cruise ship.
Nagoya Mayor speaks out
While rainwater was spotted inside some competition venues, Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa assured that the facilities were not seriously damaged and the event will carry on as scheduled.
“There has been limited impact like rainwater leaking from the roofs of some buildings, but the situation is not so serious that the opening on the 19th is in jeopardy for now.
“Given the current circumstances, I believe there will be no obstacles to holding the Asian Games,” the city Mayor said.
The Asian Games 2026 kick off after the opening ceremony on September 19, but several competitions kick off before that, with Basketball beginning on Thursday.