‘Our sincere apologies’: Asian Games organisers apologise over Pakistan, South Korea transport mix-ups

Asian Games organisers apologised on Monday after Pakistan's volleyball team was taken to the wrong venue before their Pool A match against Uzbekistan at the Aichi-Nagoya Games 2026. The mix-up delayed the game. South Korea's men's team also went to the wrong location.

A transport error sent both teams to the wrong destinations. Pakistan's bus headed for the practice venue in Inuyama instead of the match venue in Okazaki, so the game started late. South Korea's men's team missed a scheduled practice session after a similar mistake.

Pakistan captain Murad Jehan highlighted the incident in a video posted on Instagram, calling it "another mismanagement" during the Games. The delay left Pakistan with limited time to reach the correct venue and prepare for the match.

A Games spokesperson apologised for the disruption. "Both teams boarded buses bound for the wrong destinations," the spokesperson said. "We would like to offer our sincere apologies to both teams for the inconvenience this caused."

How did organisers fix the Pakistan match delay?

The spokesperson explained that Pakistan was scheduled to head to Okazaki for its match, but the bus went toward Inuyama, where the practice venue is located. The route was eventually corrected, allowing the team to reach Okazaki.

Organisers pushed back the match start time to accommodate the delay. The spokesperson said the change was a major inconvenience to the team, but that adjusting the competition schedule ensured the match was conducted properly.

Pakistan remained composed and secured a second consecutive victory, beating Uzbekistan 3-0. The result maintained their strong start to the competition.

Are there wider transport problems?

The incident involving Pakistan came amid wider logistical concerns surrounding the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Organisers had previously apologised for problems involving transportation and accommodation. Several delegations have also faced difficulties getting to training and competition venues.

The increased number of athletes and officials attending the event has placed additional pressure on the Games' logistical arrangements. Organisers have acknowledged the difficulties and said they are working to improve the arrangements and prevent similar incidents from affecting participating teams.

However, the latest incidents involving Pakistan and South Korea have once again brought the Games' transportation system into focus.