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Sunshine returned to the Aichi 2026 Asian Games after several days of wet and windy weather, bringing relief to organizers, athletes, competition officials, spectators, and journalists covering the event.
The prolonged spell of inclement weather forced several competitions to be canceled, shortened, or postponed. India’s cricket team, which is defending its gold medal, resumed practice this afternoon ahead of its semifinal against Sri Lanka on Thursday afternoon. Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the first semifinal on Thursday morning.
Weather forecasters expect bright and sunny conditions over the next three days, offering organizers an opportunity to complete competitions with fewer disruptions.
The improved conditions could also help attendance, which has remained subdued across several events. Fewer than half of the 2.5 million tickets offered for sale have been sold so far.
The India-Pakistan hockey semifinal on Thursday has attracted less interest than anticipated, with tickets still available. Members of the South Asian diaspora in Japan and neighboring Asian countries had hoped for a larger turnout.
Persistent rain throughout the previous week has dampened some of the anticipation surrounding the match. Japan’s Indian diaspora is also smaller than those in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, limiting the potential local audience.
Higher airfares amid ongoing conflicts in Europe and elsewhere may have further discouraged sports enthusiasts from traveling to the Games.
The distribution of competitions across multiple cities could also be affecting attendance and visibility. Although organizers have offered no official explanation for the limited response, the expanded program, including indigenous sports from South and Southeast Asia, may have contributed to uneven interest across events.
In several host cities, some residents appeared unaware that Asian Games competitions were taking place nearby. Observations in Nagoya, Gifu, and other locations suggest that the excitement and celebrations typically associated with a major continental sporting event have been less evident.
Metro and local trains carry banners and posters promoting the Games, but those displays have not consistently translated into a festive atmosphere across the host cities.
Few political leaders from Olympic Council of Asia member nations have shown visible interest in the Games so far. Attention will eventually turn to the closing ceremony, which organizers hope will provide a lively conclusion to Japan’s third time hosting the event.
