Empty seats, judging rows take off gloss

But not even the heroics of Kitajima, who broke the oldest world record in swimming on his way to collecting three golds, could help capture the imagination of local fans. Staged barely four months after millions of South Koreans had been swept up in the euphoria of the football World Cup, the Asian Games appeared to suffer the hangover of June’s nationwide party.

Only about half the available tickets were sold, with many events before sparse crowds and school children brought into venues so fewer athletes were forced to play in silence before empty seats.

Organisers put a brave face on ticket sales as the Games wound up here yesterday. “The figures of the spectators exceeded our expectations,” said Busan Asian Games organising committee President Chung Soon-Taek.

“Events like volleyball, basketball and taekwondo were completely sold out (at times) due to their popularity. Other events sold less well than we would have liked.” Chung also acknowledged problems caused by poor officiating. The boxing ring and the badminton arena witnessed the fiercest complaints ranging from accusations of biased judging to downright incompetence.

Indonesia staged a dramatic two-hour boycott midway through the men’s team final after several decisions went against their star player Taufik Hidayat.

“I express regret about the line-judgement,” Chung said. “There is talk about home advantage because this is our own turf. Judgement calls should be objective. Our priority here is a fair judgement.”

At least there was no disputing the brilliance of Kitajima, crowned as athlete of the Games at last night’s closing ceremony.

He came into the event carrying a wrist injury and astounded even himself in smashing American Mike Barrowman’s 10-year-old 200m breaststroke record.

“I honestly didn’t know I was going that fast. It was only when I hit the wall and looked up that I realised it was a world record,” said a bemused Kitajima after clocking 2:09.97, the first man ever below 2:10. Despite having Kitajima in their ranks, Japan were overwhelmed in the pool by China’s swimmers, who won the gold medal race 20-11.

Those 20 medals were part of a Chinese haul of 150 golds that saw them finish a long way ahead of their rivals at the top of the medal table. South Korea were second, Japan third and Kazakhstan fourth.

Yet Chinese officials have counselled caution as they look ahead to the Athens Olympics in 2004, warning that their athletes are not world-beaters in many sports.

The issue of drugs did not seriously disrupt the Games. Around 750 to 800 athletes were drug tested, though not for the banned endurance-boosting.