‘Find your own room’: Japan says can’t handle added Asian Games numbers as cruise ship and container housing hit limits

On August 28, Japanese organizers announced that late entries to the upcoming Asian Games would need to find their own accommodation due to financial constraints and lack of available space. The Games, scheduled to take place in Nagoya and the Aichi region from September 19 to October 4, had initially expected around 15,000 athletes and officials.

However, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) later revised the estimate to 17,000, comprising 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials. The committee acknowledged that the exact number fluctuates daily and has not been finalized. Organizers revealed that they lack both the financial resources and the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the additional participants.

Instead of a dedicated athletes' village, the Games will rely on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers, and hotels for accommodation. The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena will host between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes, while 2,000 athletes and officials will reside in container-style huts. The remaining participants will stay in hotels, including those in Tokyo, where swimming, diving, and equestrian events will be held.

Nagoya mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, acting as the committee's chairman, expressed difficulty in accommodating such a large number of attendees, citing both time and physical capacity limitations. He noted the tight budget and difficulty in managing the situation. The OCA declined to comment on the matter.