South Korea says ‘serious shortage’ of rooms with Asian Games days away

South Korea's Olympic committee has reported a significant shortage of lodging facilities ahead of the upcoming 20th Asian Games, set to commence in Japan. The committee informed that not only the South Korean delegation, but also the athletes and officials from other nations in the Aichi-Nagoya region are facing this crisis. Unlike the Olympics, the Asian Games do not have a designated athletes' village, and the organizers are utilizing a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers, and hotels to manage the accommodation.

This approach is aimed at reducing costs. The Games, which will be held in Nagoya and the surrounding Aichi area, are expected to accommodate over 17,000 athletes and officials, surpassing the numbers of the Olympics. While the organizers had initially anticipated 15,000 participants and claimed they lacked both manpower and budget to handle the increased numbers, they later assured that all athletes and officials registered before the July deadline would be provided with suitable accommodation.

However, a Korean Sport and Olympic Committee official has acknowledged encountering issues with the accommodation. At present, there is a serious shortage of lodging not just for the South Korean team, but for delegations from across the globe in the Aichi-Nagoya region. Organizers have hired the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena for the event, with it expected to arrive in Nagoya on Tuesday.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes are projected to reside on the ship, while the remaining athletes will be housed in hotels, including in Tokyo, where numerous swimming, diving, and equestrian events will be held.