Organisers defend Asian accommodation as residents question cramped huts

NAGOYA: Organizers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games defended the athletes' accommodation on Thursday, as local residents joined concerns about the shipping-container style huts. The organizers abandoned initial plans for a dedicated Athletes Village to save costs, opting instead for a mix of hotels, container-style modular units, and a chartered cruise ship for 17,000 athletes and officials.

Several athletes have expressed dissatisfaction with the size of their cabins and beds, a sentiment echoed by local citizens who toured a prototype unit near the Nagoya TV Tower. One nurse commented that the space felt long and narrow, and another resident suggested the games committee could have prepared better for the environment.

Despite these criticisms, an AINAGOC official maintained that athlete feedback was considered from the outset. The officials explained that they chose the largest transportable units, joining them together to create space, as larger structures would require more logistics and construction.