South Korean officials have condemned the accommodation arrangements for the Asian Games in Japan as the “worst ever”, warning of a serious shortage of rooms just days before the event officially opens in Nagoya.
The Games have no dedicated athletes’ village. Instead, organisers are using hotels, temporary wooden cabins and the cruise ship Costa Serena to house more than 17,000 athletes and officials.
Jung Jae-yong, vice-president of the Korea Basketball Association, criticised the cabins being used by South Korea’s men’s basketball team.
“Based on my experience, this is the worst it has ever been,” he said. “Athletes who are over two metres tall cannot even stretch their legs out on the beds. It’s unreasonable.”
Byeon Jun-hyeong, a member of the basketball team, posted a video showing a leaking sink and water covering the floor of his hut, alongside the message: “Please help us.”
The cabins are due to accommodate about 2,000 athletes and officials during the Games, which officially begin on Saturday. Football and basketball matches have already started.
Jung said organisers had not responded to South Korea’s concerns. “The organisers have still not said anything,” he said.
“We are very concerned and discussing extensively with the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee what to do about this.”
A Korean Sport and Olympic Committee official said the shortage affected not only South Korea but delegations from across the world in the Aichi-Nagoya area.
“At the moment, there is a serious shortage of accommodation not only for the entire South Korean delegation to the Asian Games, but for delegations from around the world in the Aichi-Nagoya area,” the official said.
“We are doing everything we can to resolve the issue and ensure there are no such problems.”
Asian Games accommodation shortage
Organisers had initially planned for 15,000 athletes and officials, but more than 17,000 are now expected to attend — a larger number than at the Olympics. Last month, they said they had “neither the manpower nor the budget” to deal with the increased demand.
The Olympic Council of Asia subsequently said everyone would be provided with somewhere to stay. However, concerns have also been raised about the availability of high-quality hotels for star cricketers.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said all athletes from his country had been allocated rooms, but some coaches and other officials had been moved to different hotels and Airbnb properties.
The Costa Serena is expected to arrive in Nagoya on Tuesday and house between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes. Other participants will stay in hotels, including in Tokyo, where swimming, diving and equestrian events are being held.
Hundreds of athletes were briefly evacuated from their accommodation last week after record rainfall hit Nagoya, with further rain forecast in the coming days.
Indian sports officials have built replicas of the cabins to help their athletes prepare for the accommodation they will use during the Games.
