Olympic Council of Asia defends cruise ship lodging for Asian Games athletes

Athletes participating in the 20th Asian Games have raised complaints regarding their accommodation, specifically concerning the use of cruise ships intended to reduce costs.

Jung Jae-yong, Vice President of the Korea Basketball Association, described the situation as the ‘worst ever,’ noting that athletes taller than two meters cannot fully extend their legs on the beds. Additionally, the Hong Kong, China table tennis team expressed dissatisfaction with messy room conditions, while Chinese table tennis player Wang Manyu reported experiencing seasickness and disorientation during training due to the ship environment.

Husain Al Musallam, head of the Olympic Council of Asia, defended the decision, stating that building an athletes' village requires massive investment and that post-Games usage must be considered. He emphasized that all registered athletes, officials, and coaches have been provided with accommodation and that the current approach is appropriate for the host city's circumstances.