Asian Games chief defends ‘functional’ rooms after backlash

Accommodations for the Asian Games athletes in Japan are functional, according to the chief organiser, Hideaki Omura, who spoke ahead of the opening ceremony. Over 17,000 competitors and officials are expected to attend the continent's largest sporting event, set to begin on Saturday in Nagoya. The organisers are using temporary accommodations, including a cruise liner, wooden containers, and hotel rooms, to cut costs.

However, the plan has encountered issues, with South Korean officials calling the container huts the "worst ever" and complaining about the beds being too short. Another athlete from a different team reported entering the facility and immediately opting for a hotel room instead. Several countries have also voiced concerns about a shortage of accommodations.

Organising Committee President Omura assured that efforts are being made to ensure athletes' comfort. If any issues arise, he said, they will respond appropriately and continue to improve the situation as problems emerge. One South Korean basketball player even posted a video on social media showing a leaking sink and a soaked floor in his hut accommodation, captioning it, "Please help us." About 2,000 athletes were temporarily evacuated from their accommodations due to heavy rainfall last week.

The huts, constructed this year, received a positive assessment from a committee of former athletes, including Olympians, who deemed them functional and satisfactory. Approximately 4,000 athletes and officials will also reside on the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, which docked in Nagoya on Tuesday. Cruise ships have been utilized for accommodation in international sports events before, but never to this extent.

The Asian Games are occurring during typhoon season in Japan, and Nagoya has experienced significant rainfall recently. Omura emphasized that the primary goal is to keep athletes and officials safe, emphasizing that they can provide accommodations guaranteeing safety and optimal performance.

The Asian Games, which will span over two weeks, involve athletes from 45 countries and territories competing in more than 40 sports. Ticket sales have been progressing well, particularly for marquee events, although lesser-known sports like cricket, which is unfamiliar in Japan, have not yet attracted much interest. India, a cricket powerhouse, is sending a star-studded team, and while Indian residents in Japan expressed enthusiasm, ticket sales have been relatively weak.

Omura hopes the Games will help reaffirm Asia's bonds of friendship through sports, noting that basketball and football events have been underway since last week. After witnessing a physical basketball match between Qatar and Iran, Omura expressed hope that the Games would facilitate friendship even amidst geopolitical tensions, stating, "Without the Asian Games, you couldn't have a game like that."