Japan scraps Asian games promotion event over G7 summit tensions with China

Tokyo, May 24 (EFE).- Japanese government has canceled an Asian games promotion event in its Nagoya city at the request of China, as diplomatic tension deepens between the two neighbors over the recently concluded G7 summit in Hiroshima.

The media event, scheduled for the coming weekend in Central Japan’s Aichi Prefecture’s Nagoya city, was aimed to promote the 2023 Asian Games, planned to be held in China’s Hangzhou city later this year, according to Japan’s Kyodo news agency.

Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura said the Chinese organizers of the 2023 Asian games and the Olympic Council of Asia, contacted the prefecture Monday and requested the cancellation of the promotion event.

Omura said the Chinese side has given no reason for the cancellation of the event, but it could reflect China’s displeasure and discontent over the G7 summit, held between May 19-21 in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Omura said the cancellation of the promotional event came a day after the Chinese foreign ministry summoned Japan’s ambassador in Beijing to lodge its protest over the joint declaration of the G7 summit.

China alleged that Japan has collaborated with G7 countries “to smear and attack China in the series of activities and joint declarations of the G7 Hiroshima summit, grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs.”

However, Omura told reporters “It is very unfortunate. There have been many occasions in the past when political developments have affected sports exchanges.”

Japan’s Aichi Prefecture will co-host the next round of Asian Games in 2026. EFE

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