Management is a “four-dimensional puzzle”: Structure of the Asian Games troubles as seen by experts

A series of operational troubles occurred at the Aichi/Nagoya Asian Games. Ikuko Tanioka, president of Shigakukan University and honorary vice president of the Japan Wrestling Association, points out that behind this is the structural problem faced by large-scale international sports tournaments. I asked for details.

--Management errors and troubles became a hot topic.

An international general competition is like a ``4-dimensional puzzle'' in which a large number of factors must be adjusted simultaneously in response to ever-changing conditions, including accommodation, meals, transportation, medical care for athletes, venue construction, competition management, and dealing with sponsors.

Aichi prefecture officials and Nagoya city officials, who were unfamiliar with such events, were seconded to the organizing committee to handle the practical work, so it's easy to imagine the trial and error involved. I think there was a mismatch in having someone who had worked in a vertically divided organization suddenly take on the role of linking multiple departments. If the Expo lasts for six months, there will be time to recover from mistakes, but if the Expo lasts only two weeks, there will be little time for that.

――Due to the bid-rigging incident surrounding the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, major advertising companies such as Dentsu did not go into operation.

If a major advertising company had been involved, problems might not have occurred as often. However, it is believed that there are structural problems unique to international sports tournaments in the background.

In the case of the Olympics, most of the authority is held by the organizers...