Record rainfall forces Asian Games athletes to evacuate in Nagoya

NAGOYA: The countdown to the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya has been disrupted by extraordinary rainfall, with around 400 athletes and staff members temporarily evacuated after flooding struck parts of the Japanese host city.

Torrential rain lashed Nagoya on Tuesday, inundating roads, disrupting public transport and forcing thousands of residents to move to emergency shelters. Areas linked to the Asian Games were also affected, with rainwater reportedly entering some competition venues and leaks appearing at several facilities.

Despite the disruption, Japanese officials have sought to reassure participating teams that the Games will proceed as scheduled.

Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said on Wednesday that the situation was not serious enough to threaten the event’s opening and expressed confidence that preparations would continue without delay.

The athletes and officials were evacuated from temporary accommodation near Nagoya Port as a precaution when water levels rose. They were moved to higher ground and returned after the evacuation order was lifted roughly two hours later. No injuries among the Games contingent were reported.

Record rainfall overwhelms Nagoya

The rainfall created significant disruption across the city. Around 104 millimetres of rain reportedly fell within a single hour, overwhelming drainage systems and flooding roads and residential areas.

Vehicles were stranded in several locations while bus and subway services were temporarily suspended in affected areas.

The Shonai River also reached dangerous levels, prompting authorities to issue a high-level flood warning. Around 3,500 people sought refuge at designated evacuation centres as emergency services responded to the situation.

The timing of the storm added to the pressure on Nagoya, where thousands of athletes, coaches and officials are gathering ahead of one of Asia’s largest sporting events.

Athletes caught in emergency evacuation

The most immediate impact on the Games occurred near Nagoya Port, where some athletes and staff are staying in temporary accommodation.

About 400 members of the Asian Games contingent were moved temporarily to safer locations as a precaution. After officials determined that conditions had improved, they were allowed to return.

Although no injuries were reported, the evacuation disrupted carefully planned preparations. Athletes arriving for major international competitions typically follow strict schedules involving training, recovery, nutrition and travel between venues.

The incident also offered an unexpected test of emergency procedures established for participants staying in temporary accommodation and other non-traditional facilities.

Unusual athletes’ village arrangement

The evacuation has drawn attention to one of the distinctive features of the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Unlike many major sporting events, organisers have not built a single conventional athletes’ village. Participants are instead being accommodated across hotels, temporary facilities and a cruise ship.

Some teams are staying in temporary accommodation near the port, where emergency evacuation arrangements had been prepared in anticipation of severe weather.

Tuesday’s flooding effectively put those procedures into practice.

The safe evacuation and return of the athletes without reported injuries will provide some reassurance to organisers. However, the incident has also highlighted the importance of ensuring that accommodation, transport and emergency routes remain reliable if further extreme weather occurs.

Competition venues also affected

The storm was not limited to residential and accommodation areas.

Rainwater reportedly entered several competition venues, while roof leaks were observed at some facilities. The developments raised concerns because certain sporting competitions are scheduled to begin before the official opening ceremony.

Officials have said there is no indication of major damage to Games infrastructure. Authorities are continuing to inspect affected venues and assess whether any repairs or additional precautions are required.

Games remain scheduled for September 19

The official opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is scheduled for September 19, with the competition continuing through October 4.

However, some sporting events will begin earlier. Basketball competition, for example, is scheduled to start on September 10.

This means organisers face an immediate challenge in restoring normal transportation, ensuring venues are ready and allowing athletes to maintain their preparations despite the effects of the flooding.

Mayor Hirosawa has said the current situation does not threaten the opening ceremony and that officials remain confident the Games can proceed as planned.

A major logistical challenge

More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are expected to compete in the Games, alongside thousands of coaches, officials, volunteers and support personnel.

The event will feature 43 sports across 53 competition venues in Nagoya, the wider Aichi region and other locations.

The scale and geographical spread of the Games make reliable transportation particularly important. Athletes and officials must move regularly between accommodation, training sites and competition venues, while spectators will also depend heavily on the city’s transport network.

Any further severe weather could therefore create challenges beyond individual venues.

Japan faces an early test

Japan has extensive experience dealing with natural disasters and extreme weather, and the prompt evacuation of the affected athletes demonstrated that emergency procedures were activated when necessary.

The incident nevertheless serves as an early reminder that the success of a major sporting event depends on more than competition facilities.

For now, the athletes who were evacuated have returned safely, no serious injuries among participants have been reported, and officials remain confident that the Games will open on September 19 as scheduled.

The immediate task for organisers is to inspect venues, clear affected roads, restore transportation services and ensure accommodation remains safe.

For Nagoya, the torrential rain has delivered an unexpected test just days before the Asian Games begin.

The host city will now hope that the experience strengthens its preparations and that the remainder of the Games countdown can proceed without further major weather disruptions.