NAGOYA: The clock is ticking for Japan, most unusually. A country synonymous with punctuality and quiet efficiency has been struggling with the clock in its role as Asian Games host.
On Friday, the flag-hoisting ceremony for six contingents — India, Yemen, North Korea, Palestine, Chinese Taipei and Timor-Leste — was delayed by more than an hour because of what organisers described as “miscommunication” between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Games organising committee (ANAGOC).
The ceremony at Garden Pier was scheduled for 1:30 pm local time but was initially pushed back by 20 minutes, following which the ceremonial band began playing. However, just before the contingents were due to take the stage, they were asked not to proceed and were made to wait before eventually being sent back to the waiting area.
No Indian athlete was in attendance, but chef de mission Sahdev Yadav and deputy chefs de mission Sharath Kamal, Anjali Bhagwat, Lijo Thottan and Alaknanda Ashok were present.
Initially, the delay was attributed to the late arrival of the chief guest. An ANAGOC official later offered a different explanation.
“The communication between the Olympic Council of Asia executive board and the organising committee was not well, that’s why this happened. It’s not like somebody delayed the ceremony,” the official said.
‘THERE IS MISMANAGEMENT’
India’s chef de mission Yadav, meanwhile, sought to assure that efforts were being made to ensure athletes were not inconvenienced by the organisational issues that have plagued the Games in the build-up.
“Initially there were problems, but we have booked extra hotel rooms. Our officials are at the airport to sort out issues. There is mismanagement, but in a Games on this scale it happens, but we are focused on solving the problem of our athletes. We have booked about 18 extra hotel rooms and are now looking at 10 more,” Yadav told reporters.
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