{
  "id": 8194633,
  "title": "Officials defend using temporary containers, cruise ship as lodging at Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/officials-defend-using-temporary-containers-cruise-ship-as-lodging-at",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T07:22:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260918/officials-defend-using-temporary-containers-cruise-ship-as-lodging-at-asian-games"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA, Japan — The Olympic Council of Asia is facing criticism over the accommodations provided to athletes and officials at the Asian Games, utilizing converted wooden containers, cruise ships, and hotel rooms. The council stated that all \"17,000-plus athletes and officials\" registered by the July entry deadline have been given games-appropriate lodging. The games, set to open on Saturday and run until October 4 in Nagoya, will have at least 11,000 athletes participating in 43 sports, with 45 countries and regions represented. Japanese officials avoided constructing a dedicated athletes village, instead opting for a variety of accommodations. Several nations have openly expressed dissatisfaction with the lodging, including basketball players who have complained about beds that are too short, and hundreds of athletes having to be evacuated due to heavy rainfall earlier in the week. The deputy chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia, Tayyab Ikram, expressed a desire not to leave a \"white elephant\" after the games.",
  "summary": "NAGOYA, Japan — The Olympic Council of Asia is attempting to quell complaints about lodging for athletes and officials at the Asian Games, which includes the use of converted wooden containers. The OCA said Friday that all “17,000-plus athletes and officials” that registered by the entry deadline in July have been provided “games-appropriate accommodation.” The games open officially on Saturday…",
  "key_points": [
    "Olympic Council of Asia uses containers, cruise ships, hotel rooms for lodging.",
    "17,000+ athletes and officials accommodated for Asian Games.",
    "Japanese officials avoid dedicated athletes village, opt for varied accommodations."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Olympic Council of Asia's cost-cutting approach to accommodations, using temporary containers and cruise ships, has drawn criticism from athletes and officials, potentially undermining the games' overall experience.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Jonassen calls for speed, killing instinct at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/jonassen-calls-for-speed-killing-instinct-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-09-18T07:13:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Officials defend using temporary containers, cruise ship as lodging at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/officials-defend-using-temporary-containers-cruise-ship-as-lodging-at-8196931",
        "published": "2026-09-18T07:37:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}