Typhoon warning leaves many seats empty at Asian Games opening in Nagoya

The opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya took place under a typhoon warning, resulting in a clearly empty section of the 30,000-capacity venue. Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said the vacant block was required for the Games flame and that more than 70 % of tickets were sold, contradicting earlier sell-out claims. The emperor and empress of Japan were present, and fireworks concluded the spectacle. No rain fell during the ceremony, but the storm later produced heavy rain in the Tokyo region, where swimming events are being held, and forecasts warned of additional wet weather in Nagoya on Sunday and Monday.