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

The Asian Games, set to begin in Nagoya, Japan, this week, is facing a significant shortage of accommodation for the expected 17,000 athletes and officials, surpassing the number that attended the Olympics. South Korea's Olympic committee disclosed that there is a lack of dedicated accommodation for athletes, relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers, and various hotels to accommodate participants, aiming to control costs.

Unlike the Olympics, this event does not have a designated athletes' village. The Philippine Olympic Committee president, Abraham Tolentino, confirmed that all his country's athletes were provided with beds, but some officials, such as coaches, were relocated to different hotels and Airbnb rentals. The organizers are actively addressing the issue to prevent problems, and all athletes registered before the July deadline are expected to be accommodated.

However, concerns persist about the quality of the accommodation, particularly concerning the shipping container-style huts that will house 2,000 athletes and officials. One South Korean basketball player shared a video of leaky fixtures in his hut. The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, expected to arrive in Nagoya on Tuesday, will house between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes, with the rest accommodated in hotels across the city, including Tokyo where swimming, diving, and equestrian events will take place.

Evacuations were briefly carried out due to heavy rainfall, but athletes returned after the evacuation order was lifted. More rain is forecasted for the region in the coming days, raising additional concerns.