Athletes can't stretch their legs in container beds at Japan's Asian Games, official says
South Korea's delegation slams the wooden containers housing its athletes at the Asian Games in Nagoya city.
A heated controversy surrounds the accommodation at Japan's upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya. Wooden container huts, designed to house thousands of athletes, have drawn harsh criticism. Jung Jae-yong, vice-president of the Korea Basketball Association, lamented that athletes over 2 meters (6ft 7in) tall are unable to even stretch their legs in the beds.
The Games, expected to host more than 17,000 athletes and officials, have seen a surge in complaints. A South Korean basketball player shared a video of a leaking pipe and a soggy floor in his room. Record rainfall earlier in the week caused flooding in some venues and the containers themselves.
Accommodation manager Yuta Matsuo acknowledged the athletes' dissatisfaction and stated that the organizers are taking concrete steps to improve the situation. Unlike the Olympic Games, this event lacks a designated athletes' village and instead relies on temporary accommodations, including the containers and an Italian cruise ship.
Initially, the Games were expected to attract 15,000 participants, but this number swelled to over 17,000 after the inclusion of teqball and padel. Despite the budget for 15,000 people, organizers have managed to provide accommodation for all registered athletes. The final preparations are on track, promising to be the most spectacular Asian Games in years.
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