The flag hoisting ceremony at the Asian Games in Nagoya was initially delayed and later disrupted before finally being held on Friday. Organizers resolved an unspecified issue that had caused the logistical chaos, which has drawn significant criticism. The ceremony included participation from India and other nations, highlighting the event’s international significance amidst ongoing challenges.
Ceremony Highlights Indian Delegation’s Leadership
At the ceremony held at Garden Pier, India’s chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav was accompanied by four deputy chef-de-missions: A Sharath Kamal, Lijo David Thottan, Alaknanda Ashok, and Anjali Bhagwat. The location is situated near the container-style accommodations designated for athletes.
The ceremony, involving five teams Yemen, North Korea, Palestine, India and Timor-Leste initially started after a 20-minute delay but was abruptly halted with the organisers offering nothing specific in explanation. Sharath and Bhagwat had begun making their way to the dais but had to head back to the waiting area after the local organisers announced another delay.
“I have not seen such a scene before,” Sahdev Yadav told PTI. India’s Sports Minister Mansukha Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha also came in briefly as the IOA office for the Games is located nearby. They too left eventually. After a delay of over one hour, the ceremony finally began with India represented by former shooter Bhagwat and former sprinter Thottan. Friday’s disruption adds to the organisational chaos in the mega-event where athletes have complained about delayed and cramped lodging facilities. The organisers have made accommodation arrangements at container-style huts, a docked cruise ship and hotels instead of building a traditional Games village to cut costs. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Flag hoisting ceremonies are the official welcome events for the travelling contingents at multi-sport events and are held a day before the official Games opening.
Communication Breakdown Causes Event Delay
Local organizers announced a delay during an unspecified event, stating, “We are sorry for the delay. There is some trouble with a team. We will try to restore in another 15 minutes.” The disruption extended for over an hour. In a follow-up statement, organizers attributed the issue to a communication failure between the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board and the Organizing Committee, without providing further details. They noted, “The communication between the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board and Organising Committee was not well, that’s why this happened.”
