Athletes and sports officials assembling for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya were probably not prepared for the chaotic reception awaiting them in Japan, a country generally known for efficiency and punctuality. They may have been prepared for the use of shipping-container accommodation, but probably not for shortages of beds and even food, the allocation of the same room to more than one person, inadequate transport, and long waiting hours. In some cases, these problems reportedly resulted in participants missing training and practice sessions.
This has happened despite reports that the budget for the Games has tripled from the original estimate of around 90 billion yen.
The situation once again draws attention to an aspect of international sporting events that this writer has emphasized repeatedly: whether the event is the Olympic Games, Asian Games or another major international competition, it may be far better to organize it in a decentralized manner, with several countries sharing both the responsibilities and the honors. Such an approach could contribute to better organization and greater international participation, while also significantly reducing problems such as displacement and the enormous economic burden that have troubled host cities in the past.
At a time when most attention is focused on which countries will win the most medals, it is easy to overlook the social and environmental costs of hosting mega sporting events. During the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, for example, several social groups intensified their efforts to prevent the eviction of vulnerable people. RDLM, a collective of more than 80 organizations, alleged that thousands of homeless and migrant people had already been displaced through a number of actions, putting the number at around 12,500. The collective released a 78-page report titled One Year of Social Cleansing.
These organizations also sought to ensure that the essential services and needs of vulnerable people were not neglected amid the preparations for the Games. Earlier, environmental groups had protested against the proposed felling of trees in Paris as part of redevelopment associated with the Olympics.
Previous Olympic Games have also generated controversies over their impacts on greenery, settlements of weaker sections of society and the development priorities of host cities. People have repeatedly asked why land and spaces needed for affordable housing, public amenities and greenery should be diverted to construct large numbers of sports stadiums and facilities that may remain underused after the Games are over.
The difficulties associated with hosting the Olympics have even led prospective host cities to withdraw their bids. Before Paris was awarded the 2024 Games, Boston, Rome, Hamburg and Budapest withdrew from the bidding process, citing concerns related to economic and social costs. In the case of the 1976 Games, Denver withdrew after the city had already been selected, paving the way for Montreal to become the host.
One major reason for these concerns is the high and frequently escalating cost of the Games. Recent Olympics have experienced substantial cost overruns, in some cases ranging from about 75 per cent to more than 300 per cent.
While the Olympic spectacle rolls on, a question of growing importance is whether mega sporting events place excessive pressure on host cities. Residents have often complained that such events disrupt local priorities, with governments giving preference to huge stadiums, sports complexes and associated infrastructure over more essential projects. Some of these facilities may subsequently remain substantially underutilized.
Protest movements have emerged in several cities hosting the Olympics and other major sporting events, including the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Such opposition was visible in Tokyo around the 2020 Olympics, and concerns about costs and the temporary displacement of vulnerable groups have also emerged in the context of the Los Angeles Olympics scheduled for 2028.
According to the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions in Geneva, nearly 1.5 million people were displaced in connection with the Beijing Olympics in 2008, following substantial displacement associated with the Seoul Olympics. The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games have likewise faced allegations and complaints concerning large-scale evictions and corruption. The London Olympics in 2012 also resulted in the cancellation of an important low-income housing project.
Mega sporting events have at times been accompanied by serious repression of protests. During the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, student protesters faced police and military action, with dozens killed. In Beijing, protesters and dissenters also faced severe repression in the period surrounding the 2008 Olympics.
The financial legacy of some Olympics has been equally troubling. The cost of the Tokyo Olympics ultimately more than doubled from its initial estimate. The Montreal Olympics of 1976 left the city with a huge debt burden that took decades to repay. The stadium built for those Games became so notorious for its financial burden that it acquired the nickname "the Big Owe."
Another concern is the concentration of an enormous number of sporting competitions into an extremely short period. When hundreds of events involving thousands of athletes are compressed into roughly two or three weeks, even enthusiastic sports followers cannot give adequate attention to all of them. Too much happens simultaneously and too quickly.
The Tokyo Olympics, for example, involved around 11,000 athletes competing in 339 events across 41 sports, yet the Games were completed in just 17 days.
The International Olympic Committee has introduced various reforms over the years, including separating the Winter Olympics from the Summer Olympics so that they are held in different years. Such measures have helped, but they do not address the fundamental problem: the Summer Olympics itself has become an enormous event concentrated in one place and within an exceptionally short period.
A more fundamental reform is therefore needed. The Summer Olympics and Paralympics could be distributed across perhaps 40 countries representing all continents. One country could serve as the lead host and be responsible for perhaps one-tenth of the events, while the remaining responsibilities could be shared among participating countries across different regions of the world.
Such an arrangement would make the Olympics genuinely more international and participatory. Financial costs would be distributed among many countries rather than concentrated on a single host. The administrative and infrastructural burden would also be reduced, even if the number of participating sports and events were increased.
At the same time, the competitions could be spread throughout the Olympic year, taking into account the most suitable seasons in different host countries. Sports enthusiasts would then have major international competitions to look forward to throughout the year rather than being confronted with hundreds of events compressed into just two or three weeks. They could follow the competitions with greater attention and enjoyment.
Such decentralization could also help reduce displacement and other social costs. When the scale of the event in any one location is much smaller, there is less pressure to undertake massive construction and redevelopment projects within a short period.
A requirement to minimize social and ecological costs could also be incorporated into agreements with countries hosting Olympic events. Clear safeguards could be developed by teams of independent experts, with compliance monitored by appropriate international bodies. Host countries could be expected to demonstrate that essential housing, environmental protection and other social priorities would not be sacrificed for the Games.
This could provi---de a way forward that reduces the burden of hosting the Olympics while making the event more representative, participatory and enjoyable.
When such reforms should be introduced, and from which Olympics they should begin, can be determined through consultations among the International Olympic Committee, participating countries, athletes, host communities and other stakeholders once the principle of decentralized hosting is accepted.
Similar reforms could also be considered for other mega sporting events, including the Asian Games, wherever such an approach is practical.
The objective should not be to diminish the scale or importance of international sport, but to distribute its benefits and responsibilities more widely. By sharing the burden among several countries, mega sporting events can become less disruptive for individual host cities while giving sports enthusiasts around the world more opportunities to participate in and enjoy them.
The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include A Day in 2071, Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine and Planet in Peril. His website is bharatdogra.in and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra | Save Earth Campaign
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