Archive · 15 Sep 2026
South Korea Decries ‘Worst Ever’ Asian Games Accommodation
The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Japan.
Some athletes and officials say their temporary homes are not comfortable.
The beds in some cabins are too short for very tall basketball players.
One athlete showed a leaking sink and a wet floor.
Heavy rain also forced hundreds of athletes to leave their accommodation briefly.
The Games do not have one large athletes’ village.
Instead, people are staying in cabins, hotels and a cruise ship.
Organizers expected fewer people than the more than 17,000 now expected.
Some officials say there are not enough rooms, while organizers say everyone will have somewhere to stay.
South Korean officials called temporary cabin accommodation the “worst ever,” citing short beds, leaks and soaked floors.
A South Korean basketball official warned of a serious shortage of rooms for delegations in the Aichi-Nagoya area.
The Games are using temporary cabins, hotels and the Costa Serena cruise ship instead of a dedicated athletes’ village.
More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected, exceeding the organizers’ initial estimate of 15,000.
Philippine athletes received rooms, while some coaches and officials were moved to hotels and Airbnb accommodations.
- Who
- Athletes and officials from participating delegations, including South Korea, the Philippines and India, are affected.
- What
- Delegations have reported short beds, leaking facilities, accommodation shortages and temporary evacuations.
- When
- The complaints were reported Monday, September 14; the Games officially open on Saturday, while football and basketball have already started.
- Where
- Nagoya and Aichi prefecture in Japan, with some events and accommodation also involving Tokyo.
- Why
- Organizers are using several types of accommodation instead of a dedicated athletes’ village, while attendance has exceeded the initial estimate.
Delegations’ concerns
Organizers’ and officials’ position
Quality of accommodation
Delegations’ concerns
South Korean officials described the cabins as the worst accommodation they had experienced, citing beds too short for athletes over two meters tall, a leaking sink and a soaked floor.
Organizers’ and officials’ position
Organizers are using cabins, hotels and a cruise ship instead of a dedicated athletes’ village in an effort to cut costs; they previously cited limited manpower and budget.
Availability of rooms
Delegations’ concerns
A South Korean Olympic committee official warned of a serious shortage for delegations in the Aichi-Nagoya area, while Philippine coaches and other officials were moved to hotels and Airbnb.
Organizers’ and officials’ position
The Olympic Council of Asia said everyone would receive a place to stay, and the Philippine Olympic Committee said all its athletes had rooms.
Response to complaints
Delegations’ concerns
The Korea Basketball Association said organizers had not responded to South Korea’s concerns, prompting officials to discuss what to do.
Organizers’ and officials’ position
A South Korean Olympic committee official said efforts were being made to resolve the issue and ensure there would be no such problems; Asian Games organizers had not immediately responded to an AFP request for comment.
- Event
- 2026 Asian Games
- Host area
- Nagoya and Aichi prefecture, Japan
- Expected attendance
- More than 17,000 athletes and officials
- Initial estimate
- 15,000 athletes and officials
- Accommodation plan
- Temporary wooden cabins, hotels and the Costa Serena cruise ship
- Cruise ship capacity
- Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes are expected to stay aboard
- Reported problems
- Short beds, leaking facilities, room shortages and rain-related evacuations
