Typhoon Dujuan is disrupting the schedule and logistics of the ongoing Asian Games, prompting event postponements and precautionary measures as the storm approaches Japan’s central regions. The tropical cyclone is projected to impact the Izu Peninsula, Tokyo, and Nagoya, with authorities issuing heavy rain warnings and forecasting sustained winds of up to 90 km/h, with gusts reaching 126 km/h.
The storm is expected to have a significant effect on the Games, particularly in Nagoya, where the Costa Serena cruise ship currently serves as athlete housing. Under contingency plans devised by the organising committee and the Nagoya Coast Guard, the ship may be required to depart port and move out to sea if weather conditions deteriorate significantly, jeopardizing the safety of those on board. In such an event, athletes who are not aboard the vessel at the time would be relocated to alternative accommodations to ensure their protection.
The threat posed by Typhoon Dujuan has led to the postponement of several events. Equestrian competitions scheduled at the JRA Baji Koen Equestrian Park in Tokyo were delayed on Monday and Tuesday, affecting riders from Hong Kong including Patrick Lam Lap-shun, Annie Ho Yuen-yan, Su Yuxuan, and Nicole Michele Pearson. Meanwhile, heavy rains at the Nagara River International Rowing Course in Gifu prefecture caused organizers to compress the originally six-day rowing program into just two days. The revised schedule, now set for September 23 and 24, eliminates semi-finals and repechage rounds across multiple events to reduce exposure to the storm.
The effects of the typhoon extend beyond the Games, with various public sporting events, including marathons and football matches in Tokyo as well as Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures, cancelled as precautionary measures.
Throughout Sunday night, athletes aboard the cruise ship were advised by management to take safety precautions against strong winds expected in Nagoya Bay, including securing belongings from balconies. Macau table tennis player Zhu Yuling shared these warnings via social media, noting the challenges posed by gusty conditions ahead of her early morning match.
The organising committee has indicated it will coordinate with the Olympic Council of Asia and relevant international sports federations to adjust competition schedules if further disruptions occur, underscoring a commitment to athlete safety amid the evolving weather situation.