by sportswriter Yue Chenxing
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Alongside the young swimmers collecting Asian Games medals stood volunteers with white hair, holding trays in a scene that brought Japan's aging population into focus.
Swimming medal ceremonies at the Aichi-Nagoya Games offered a striking contrast with the youthful attendants often associated with major sporting events.
Organizers say it was not by design.
"All medal ceremony attendants are volunteers," said Ryoki Sawada, head of the organizing committee's volunteer department. "The roles were not reserved for young people, and there had been no deliberate effort to assign large numbers of older volunteers."
Their presence extends well beyond the podium. Older volunteers are a familiar sight at the main media center and competition venues across the Games.
Monday, Sept. 21, was Japan's Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday that gave the presence of the white-haired volunteers added resonance.
Government estimates released ahead of the holiday put the number of people aged 65 and older at 36.24 million as of Sept. 15 -- a record 29.6 percent of the population, or nearly three in 10 people.
Japan had the highest share of older people among the 39 countries with populations exceeding 40 million, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
That demographic reality shapes the pool of people available to support a major sporting event.
Full-time work and multiple part-time jobs can leave younger people with little time to commit to extended periods of volunteering. Japan's large retired population, with its tradition of community service, helps fill the gap.
Around 40,000 volunteers, aged between 18 and 91, are involved in the Asian Games and Asian Para Games, 85 percent live in Aichi Prefecture, and 55 percent are volunteering for the first time, according to organizing committee figures.
More than 90 percent work in Games support, including event operations and transport for athletes and others. The remainder help spectators at major railway stations and around venues.
Recruitment was not straightforward. The Japanese media outlet Asahi Shimbun reported before the Games that an initially low number of applications prompted organizers to step up efforts to attract students, who eventually accounted for about a third of the volunteers.
The newspaper also reported that around 1,700 foreign volunteers came from roughly 50 countries and regions. More than 100 were coming to Japan specifically to volunteer during the events. Some cited fond memories of volunteering at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games as their reason for returning.
"For those selected, assignments depend on both their preferences and the work required," Sawada said. "Applicants could list three preferred roles, ranging from spectator services and competition operations to technical support and VIP reception. Their wishes are taken into account, although the organizing committee has the final say."
"Physical abilities also matter. Someone unable to do heavy lifting at a venue might be able to take on ceremony duties instead," Sawada explained, but declined to disclose the selection criteria.
"Once assigned, volunteers receive training in their roles and familiarize themselves with the venue and its procedures. Preparation for medal ceremonies takes about two to three hours, including demonstration videos, practice of carrying trays and rehearsals at the venue," he said.
Older people doing such work are part of a familiar picture in Japan, where elderly taxi drivers, security guards, traffic marshals and community caretakers remain visible in everyday life. The Asian Games have brought that everyday reality into international view. ■
