Nagoya floods forced around 400 Asian Games athletes and staff to evacuate, but the mayor gave a big update on the eventScroll down for the full story.
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Flooding in Nagoya, Japan (Photo: Kyodo)
Asian Games 2026: Athletes who reached Nagoya early for the Asian Games 2026 stayed completely safe during heavy flooding that struck the central Japanese cityNagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa shared the update on Wednesday and calmed concerns about the upcoming multi-sport event.
“We are not worried about the conditions of the venues and we believe there is no problem holding the Asian Games as planned,” Hirosawa told reporters.
The Asian Games will begin on September 19 in Nagoya and nearby areas and continue until October 4More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions across Asia are set to take partThat number is higher than the roughly 10,700 athletes who competed at the 2024 Paris OlympicsThe last Asian Games took place three years ago in Hangzhou, China.
Temporary housing and venue checks after the rain
Around 400 athletes and support staff living in converted shipping containers-specially prepared as temporary homes for the Games-had to move briefly to higher ground when the rain became intenseOfficials confirmed they returned safely once the situation improved.
Mayor Hirosawa noted that a few roofs at the many competition venues showed some leaksHowever, he stressed that no major damage occurred and the facilities remain ready for use.
Impact of record rainfall on the City
Record rainfall hit parts of Nagoya on TuesdayWater flooded dozens of roads and homesMany people walking or driving found themselves stuckCity buses and subway services stopped running for a short time because of the conditions.
Reports said nearly 3,500 residents took shelter at emergency centres set up across the cityThe flooding caused disruption for local people, yet the sports venues and the athletes already in the city avoided any harm.
Preparations stay on track for September start
Organisers have checked the competition sites thoroughly after the weather clearedThe mayor’s statement gives clear confidence that the Asian Games schedule will not changeAthletes, officials and fans can now focus on the competition rather than weather worries.
The brief evacuation of those staying in temporary housing and the minor roof leaks remain the only issues linked to the GamesEverything else points to a smooth start when the opening ceremony takes place later this month.
With more than 11,000 competitors expected, the event promises to be one of the biggest gatherings of Asian athletes in recent yearsThe recent flooding tested the city’s readiness, but the venues and people involved came through without serious problems.
