Asian Games organizers face accommodation shortage due to rising participant numbers

Organizers of the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture are facing significant accommodation shortages due to a surge in participants. While the initial agreement planned for approximately 15,000 athletes and officials, the Asian Olympic Council (OCA) recently announced that numbers could reach 17,000, including 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials.

Organizing Committee Chairman Hideaki Omura stated that the committee lacks the budget and personnel to accommodate the additional participants beyond the 15,000-person limit. To manage costs and space, organizers are utilizing a variety of non-traditional housing, including the cruise ship Costa Serena for 4,000 to 5,000 athletes, temporary wooden container facilities for 2,000 people, and various hotels in locations such as Tokyo.

Following discussions between the OCA and the organizers, a compromise has been reached regarding the excess numbers. While all athletes will be provided with accommodation arranged by the committee, such as the cruise ship, team officials exceeding the original capacity must have their own accommodation secured by their respective national Olympic committees.