Nagoya, Oct. 3 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Olympic Committee President Seiko Hashimoto said Saturday that the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which are set to end on Sunday, raised the value of hosting international competitions. “There have been many problems and criticisms, but the Games were highly valuable,” Hashimoto said at a press conference in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. A number of operational problems occurred at the 2026 Games, including transportation issues involving athletes. Hashimoto said it was “very disappointing” that there were many empty seats at some competition venues. “The important thing is to verify the problems,” she said, emphasizing that how well the lessons are applied going forward will determine the success of the Games. Speaking about future bids for international competitions, including the Olympics, Hashimoto said that the JOC will not gain the support of companies and local governments without improving its ability to address challenges. The end of the Asian Games is “just the beginning” of preparations for the next competitions, she said. The Japanese team won a record number of medals at the Games, with Hashimoto praising the strong performances of young athletes. She said the JOC will “continue preparations” so that athletes can perform at their best at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
