Asian Games.. Rising stars and a cruise ship

Where?

The Games are primarily held in the coastal city of Nagoya and the wider Aichi Prefecture.

Nagoya has a population of over two million and is Japan's fourth-largest city. It was completely destroyed during World War II.

The Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, which seats 30,000 spectators, will be the main venue for the competitions, hosting athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Swimming, one of the most-watched sports, will take place in the capital, Tokyo, located 350 kilometers to the east.

The Games, held every four years, conclude on October 4.

What?

Athletes will compete in 43 sports over two weeks.

In addition to athletics and swimming, highlights include badminton, boxing, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics, table tennis, tennis, and weightlifting.

In an attempt to attract a younger audience, esports, breakdancing, and BMX racing have been included.

Padel, one of the fastest-growing racket sports, mixed martial arts (MMA), and teqball are also making their debut at the Asian Games.

There are also lesser-known regional sports, including kurash, kabaddi, and wushu, in addition to virtual taekwondo.

How many?

The Asian Games exceed the Olympic Games in terms of the number of participants, featuring more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials.

45 countries and territories will compete.

In the previous edition in 2023, which was held a year late due to the pandemic, host China topped the medal table by a comfortable margin ahead of Japan, South Korea, India, and Uzbekistan.

Iran and North Korea also finished in the top ten, while Syria and Palestine were at the bottom of the rankings.

Who?

Among the participants is Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, whose gold medal win at the Paris Olympics sparked widespread controversy over gender identity.

Rising stars include 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is considered one of the most promising talents.

Younger still is talented Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who won a medal at the World Championships last year at the age of twelve.

Rising Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala (21) is also seeking gold, alongside Pakistani Arshad Nadeem, the javelin throw champion at the Paris Olympics.

In esports, South Korean Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, one of the biggest names in the world of competitive gaming, leads his country's strong team.

Hold on tight

Japan did not build a dedicated athletes' village to cut costs, so some athletes will stay in hotels.

Others will stay on a cruise ship docked at the port of Nagoya, while temporary wooden cabins will also be used.

Organizers are confident that the ship, in particular, will provide an unforgettable experience, but they hope the weather will be stable, otherwise those on board might face a bumpy ride.

September and October are typhoon season in Japan.

The ship "Costa Serena" accommodates about four thousand people and is the sister ship to the "Costa Concordia".

The "Costa Concordia" sank off the coast of Tuscany in 2012, killing 32 people.