Asian Games 2026: Indian Athletes Face 12-Hour Wait For Cruise Ship Cabins In Japan's Nagoya; VIDEO Viral

Indian athletes faced significant accommodation delays at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, with some members waiting for over 12 hours to secure cabins on the Costa Serena cruise ship. A video circulating on social media shows athletes, including rowers and shooters, patiently waiting for their allocations. The New Indian Express reported that some athletes resorted to carrying their own food, while the organizing committee provided only water during the lengthy wait.

Indian athletes left stranded at the cruise ship without accommodation for more than 12 hours expressed their frustration, relying solely on their food supplies. Other Indian athletes also encountered issues during the initial check-in process, with members of the wushu contingent finding that one player and two coaches were initially absent from the accommodation list.

Eventually, the Indian Olympic Association confirmed that the players were allocated rooms, though the table tennis contingent also reported a lengthy check-in process before settling in. The Costa Serena, currently docked at Nagoya Port, is being repurposed as a floating accommodation facility for the Asian Games, housing up to 4,000 athletes and officials across its 1,500 cabins.

These accommodation delays highlight wider concerns over the arrangements for the Games, which include participants staying in the cruise ship, hotels, and temporary container-style accommodations instead of a dedicated athletes' village. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are set to commence on September 19.