(Asiad) Accommodation shortages raise concerns ahead of Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Nagoya, Japan - With the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games less than a week away, concerns are mounting over a shortage of accommodations for the athletes, a sports official revealed on Tuesday. The organizers, adhering to their cost-saving and environmentally friendly policies, have opted not to build a dedicated athletes' village for the 2023 event. Instead, they have arranged accommodations on a cruise ship, container units, and hotels for approximately 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries.

Approximately 9,000 athletes will reside in hotels, while 4,000 will be accommodated on the cruise ship, the Costa Serena, and another 2,000 will reside in a cluster of wooden container units. However, athletes have expressed dissatisfaction, particularly with the container village, where room shortages have become apparent. An official from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) stated that promises made to specific Olympic committees have gone unfulfilled, resulting in around 20 rooms being lacking.

South Korea anticipates sending 1,052 athletes and officials in 41 sports to the Asian Games. Among them, athletes from five sports, including men's basketball, judo, and cycling, are assigned to the container village. Each container can accommodate up to six people. Meanwhile, athletes from 18 sports, such as archery, table tennis, judo, and gymnastics, will stay onboard the 114,000-ton Costa Serena cruise ship, anchored in Nagoya's port.

The KSOC reports that representatives from 45 nations have voiced their concerns about the accommodation issue with the Games organizers. In response to the growing complaints, organizers are making a last-minute effort to secure additional hotel rooms for the athletes. However, some athletes have expressed satisfaction with their accommodations, as they are staying at hotels in Nagoya.

The women's volleyball team member, Jung Ho-young, stated that their hotel is of high quality, providing everything they need and eliminating the need for them to venture outside for basic necessities.