South Korean sports officials have harshly criticized the lodging arrangements for the Asian Games opening in Japan this week, describing the conditions as the “worst ever” and warning of a critical lack of available rooms. The controversy centers on the absence of a dedicated athletes’ village, with organizers opting instead for a mix of temporary wooden cabins, hotels, and a repurposed cruise ship to reduce costs.
Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association (KBA), expressed deep frustration regarding the shipping container-style huts assigned to his team. “Based on my experience, this is the worst it has ever been,” Jung stated. “Athletes who are over two metres tall cannot even stretch their legs out on the beds. It’s unreasonable.”
The living conditions have drawn further scrutiny after Byeon Jun-hyeong, a member of the national basketball squad, shared a video on social media depicting a leaking sink and a waterlogged floor inside one of the cabins. The post, captioned “Please help us,” highlighted the structural issues facing the approximately 2,000 athletes and officials expected to reside in these structures throughout the two-week event.
Concerns have also been raised by other delegations. Indian sports authorities preemptively built replica cabins to help their athletes acclimate to the substandard facilities. Meanwhile, the Philippines has resorted to using Airbnb listings for some of its coaches, though Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino confirmed that all athletes from his nation have secured rooms.
A official from the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting a “serious shortage of accommodation not only for the entire South Korean delegation… but for delegations from around the world in the Aichi-Nagoya area.” The official added that they are working to resolve the issue as the games begin.
Organizers initially projected attendance for 15,000 participants but have since revised that figure upward to more than 17,000 athletes and officials—a headcount exceeding that of the Olympics. Last month, organizers claimed they lacked the manpower and budget to manage the surge, though the Olympic Council of Asia subsequently insisted every participant would be housed.
The logistical challenges are compounded by adverse weather. Hundreds of athletes were briefly evacuated last week due to record rainfall in Nagoya, with more rain forecast in the coming days. Additionally, the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena is scheduled to arrive Tuesday, accommodating between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes. The remainder of the competitors will stay in hotels, including facilities in Tokyo, which will host swimming, diving, and equestrian events.
How does a cruise ship count as adequate housing for 5,000 athletes? Seems like a band-aid solution to a bigger problem.
India building replica cabins? That shows serious foresight compared to everyone else scrambling at the last minute.
I live in Nagoya and the hotel situation here is genuinely critical. The organizers clearly underestimated demand.
This is absolutely unacceptable for a major international event. Athletes deserve basic dignity, not shipping containers.