Asian Games crowds in spotlight as 998 see hosts in 50,000 stadium

NAGOYA, Japan — Under 1,000 spectators watched Asian Games hosts Japan beat South Korea in the semifinals of the women's football at a 50,000-capacity stadium, highlighting the struggle to generate interest in some events.

It came hours after organizers in Aichi-Nagoya said Tuesday that more than one million tickets had been sold for the continent's biggest sporting spectacular.

Japanese organizers have been on the defensive over attendances ever since the opening ceremony on September 19 took place in front of thousands of empty seats.

Officials said on that occasion that the threat of a typhoon had put people off, and heavy rain fell from Sunday until Tuesday this week.

While some competitions have played out to healthy crowds, others have struggled to attract fans.

Tuesday's first women's football semi-final at the stadium in Shizuoka, a venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, saw North Korea beat China 2-0 in front of an official attendance of 564.

With rain falling steadily, 998 people then saw the hosts defeat South Korea by the same scoreline.

Japan and North Korea will meet for gold on Friday at the same stadium.

Speaking on Saturday, local Games organizers admitted they were "not satisfied" with ticket sales after the men's and women's 100m, the blue riband athletics events, took place in front of rows of empty seats.

"We will keep aiming for full stadiums, keep selling tickets and work to make sure people who have secured seats actually come," said Satoshi Murate, secretary-general of the Games organizing committee in response to a question from AFP.

In a press release late Tuesday organizers said the overall ticket sales rate was expected to be more than 70%.

AFP has contacted the local organizing committee for comment.

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