Asian Games 2026: At Aichi Shooting Range, Photographers Face Strict Dress Code

At the Asian Games shooting range in Aichi, sporting regulations extend beyond the athletes and competition officials. Photographers and television cameramen working inside the field of play are also expected to follow a specific dress code, with prominent notices around the venue spelling out what is permitted and what is not.

The requirement is part of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) rule book, although such instructions are not always displayed so prominently at international competitions. At the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, AINAGOC has made the expectations particularly clear for accredited photographers and TV cameramen working close to the action.

The picturesque shooting gallery, located in the hills roughly 70-75 kilometres from central Nagoya, has several boards carrying the message.

One poster states: "All media covering shooting events must follow the dress code." The broad wording, however, has caused some confusion over whether every journalist is subject to the same restrictions.

That distinction became evident when a video journalist was asked to change from blue jeans to black jeans, which are considered more formal under the venue's guidelines. With the shooting venue deep in the hills, returning to Nagoya, changing and travelling back would have required approximately four hours, effectively ending the day's assignment.

The matter was subsequently clarified, with the restriction on blue jeans applying specifically to photographers and TV cameramen working on the field of play rather than journalists.

The poster lists prohibited clothing as "Blue jeans (black jeans are allowed), camouflage clothing, very short shorts (shorts must be of an appropriate length)," before adding: "Please follow the ISSF dress code at all times."

The ISSF guidelines go beyond jeans. For photographers, restrictions include sleeveless shirts or tank tops, cut-offs, ragged clothing, trousers with patches or holes, gym or running shorts, and open-toed footwear such as sandals and flip-flops. Shoes must be fully closed, with safety also an important consideration around the shooting environment.

There is also a sporting reason behind some of the rules. One athlete explained that camouflage clothing could create an association between shooting and hunting, rather than presenting shooting as a sport. The blue-jeans restriction, meanwhile, is primarily about maintaining a professional appearance for photographers and television crews working prominently before spectators and cameras.