Some S'pore athletes staying in cruise ship during Asian Games due to there being no athletes' village

The 2026 Asian Games, held in Nagoya, Japan, have been marred by criticism over the accommodations provided for athletes. With an estimated 17,000 athletes and officials participating, organizers initially prepared for 15,000, opting not to build an athletes' village to save costs. Instead, athletes have been housed in a variety of arrangements, including hotels, a cruise ship, and even temporary wooden container huts.

Singapore athletes will be staying on the Costa Serena cruise ship, which provides 1,500 cabins. Juni Ong, a member of the women's water polo team, described the accommodation as "small but comfortable," noting that having a balcony room was beneficial for their sport. Karate athlete Isaiah Tang had to secure hotel accommodations after organizers reported a shortage of adequate lodging for his team.

However, the accommodations have faced significant criticism. Around 2,000 guests were lodged in wooden container huts originally designed for disaster evacuation, leading to complaints of poor conditions. Record rainfall caused brief evacuations due to roof leaks and other issues. Organizers have acknowledged the problems and promised improvements, with IOC President Kirsty Coventry commenting that the container-style accommodations were "beautiful," though she admitted they were "a little tighter" than those at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.