Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games face budget and operational scandals

Internal documents and reports have revealed significant mismanagement and operational failures surrounding the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. A major controversy involves the French company GL events Japan, which was awarded a 63 billion yen contract through a non-competitive direct agreement to manage venue construction and operations. Reports indicate that the budget for these services once surged to 81.4 billion yen, an increase of 18.4 billion yen over the original contract, leading to concerns regarding cost control and potential reductions in material quality.

Operational errors have also drawn international scrutiny. During a men's field hockey match, the North Korean national anthem was mistakenly played instead of the South Korean anthem. Internal communications reveal that the music was operated by staff dispatched from GL events Japan. The Organizing Committee has since implemented four corrective measures to prevent similar diplomatic incidents, including the use of official audio sources and multi-person verification protocols.

Additional logistical issues reported include delays in venue construction, inadequate transportation for athletes, and problems with athlete accommodation check-ins.