Nagoya Opens Asian Games Amid Operational Hiccups

The 20th Asian Games opened Saturday in Nagoya with a glittering ceremony that followed a troubled buildup marked by logistical snags. Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open after a parade of 45 nations, while former hammer‑throw champions Shigenobu and Koji Murofushi lit the cauldron. Organisers used a mix of hotel rooms, temporary wooden containers and a docked cruise ship to house over 11,000 athletes, a cost‑cutting choice that drew complaints of double bookings, cramped quarters for South Korea’s basketball team and delayed buses. India’s cricket squad secured a separate hotel after a tight bed allocation. The Olympic Council of Asia acknowledged the problems as “teething difficulties.” The ceremony’s theme, “Harmonic Heart Beat,” aimed to promote solidarity, yet incidents involving Taiwan and North Korea’s anthem added tension. The first gold medal is expected in the triathlon on Sunday.