선수촌 대신 크루즈선…‘저비용 대회’ 실험장인 아이치·나고야 [아하 아시안게임]

The 2026 Tokyo and Nagoya Asian Games are experimenting with a new model for an inexpensive international event: a floating athletes' village aboard cruise ships and modular shipping container accommodations. Instead of large-scale apartment-style athletes' villages, Nagoya Bay will house the floating athletes' village, with cruise ships accommodating around 4,600 athletes and officials across various sports.

The containers are equipped with dining and recreational facilities, and can be moved to other locations after the games. In Nagoya city, about 1,200 athletes and officials will stay in hotel or residential accommodations, with the entire event involving around 15,000 athletes and officials across five clusters and 30 accommodation points in areas like Tokyo, Saitama, and Osaka.

The cost-cutting measures were chosen to minimize the financial burden, with the International Olympic Committee explaining that no new sports venues were built specifically for the event, and instead, previously existing facilities in Tokyo and Nagoya were prioritized. Sports like swimming will also be held in Tokyo and Hamamatsu, while cycling will use the Isesaki velodrome in Saitama.

The games' equipment, including medals, were also made from recycled materials. International events often struggle with what has been dubbed the "white elephant" problem - the costly maintenance and upkeep of venues long after the event has ended. For the first time in 32 years since the 1994 Athens Games, the 2026 Tokyo and Nagoya Asian Games may mark a significant shift in how international sporting events are organized.