The organizers of next month’s Asian Games in Japan have confirmed that every athlete will have accommodation during the event, addressing concerns about potential room shortages.
Initially, it was anticipated that 15,000 athletes and officials would participate in the Games, which take place in the Nagoya and Aichi region from September 19 to October 4.
However, the Olympic Council of Asia recently revised the estimate to around 17,000 participants, citing the inclusion of new sports such as teqball—which merges football and table tennis—and padel earlier this year.
In a statement, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee (AINAGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) aimed to clarify “misleading media reports” concerning accommodation availability.
“All 17,000-plus registered athletes and officials have been allocated Games-appropriate accommodation as per the Entries by Name deadline in July,” the statement read.
“Unless exceptional circumstances arise, no additional registrations have been or will be accepted.”
Previously, Nagoya’s mayor and acting chairman of the local organizing committee, Ichiro Hirosawa, expressed that accommodating such a large number would be challenging due to a “tight budget.” Additionally, Hideaki Omura, the organizing committee president and Aichi Prefecture Governor, noted the committee lacked the resources needed for any last-minute increase in athletes.
“The host city agreement accounts for a delegation of 15,000 individuals,” Omura explained. “We do not have a budget to accommodate more than that.
“There simply isn’t available lodging. If additional participants want to attend, they will need to arrange their own accommodations.”
Nevertheless, the organizers later stated, “Final preparations are proceeding smoothly, and we are on track for what is expected to be the most outstanding Asian Games in generations.”
Unlike the Olympics, which features a designated athletes’ village, organizers have opted for temporary lodging solutions for participants.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes will stay aboard the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, which will be docked nearby, while an additional 2,000 will be housed in container-style huts.
The rest of the athletes and officials will be accommodated in hotels in Tokyo, where swimming, diving, and equestrian events are set to occur.