Accommodation, transportation problems mar 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

On the final day of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which concluded on Sunday, organizers faced backlash due to various operational issues, particularly concerning accommodations and transportation. Prior to the commencement of the multi-sport event on September 19, there had been apprehensions about a shortage of accommodations and subpar lodging for the participating athletes.

In an effort to minimize costs and adhere to environmentally friendly policies, the Asian Games organizers opted not to construct a dedicated athletes village for this year’s competition. Instead, they provided accommodations in various locations, including a cruise ship, temporary container units, and hotels for approximately 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 different nations.

Under this accommodation arrangement, around 9,000 athletes were expected to reside in hotels, while 4,000 were to be accommodated on the cruise ship and 2,000 in a cluster of wooden container units. Notably, among the approximately 1,000 members of the South Korean delegation, athletes from five sports, including men’s basketball, ju-jitsu, and cycling, were assigned to reside in the container village.