IOC chief praises Asian Games’ much-maligned accomodation facilities

Following the tumultuous run-up to the 2026 Asian Games, the International Olympic Committee's president, Kirsty Coventry, has expressed satisfaction with the accommodation facilities. Concerns over athletes and coaches enduring extended waits for rooms, cramped quarters, and insufficiently sized beds have been raised. However, Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion, maintains that the conditions surpass those of many athletes' villages she has experienced.

Japan's decision to forgo a standalone Athletes' Village in a bid to curtail expenses led to the utilization of hotels, shipping-container-style huts, and a cruise ship for housing 17,000 athletes and officials. Coventry, who inspected the accommodations at Garden Pier, praised the quietness, coolness, and high-quality flooring and walls of the cabins.

Coventry emphasized that her initial expectations were far from reality, and hoped the athletes would also find the accommodations to be of the same standard. She reiterated that while the concept of modular accommodations is not new, having experienced it in Australia during the 2000 Olympics, the primary focus should be on ensuring athletes have a positive overall experience. Coventry reiterated that athletes expect a baseline level of standards, and the committee is committed to working towards providing that.