South Korean officials have complained about the athlete accommodations at the Asian Games in Nagoya, describing them as the "worst ever" after the temporary container-style beds were too short for players over 2 meters tall to fully stretch their legs. Meanwhile, many nations are facing severe room shortages.
South Korean officials revealed that the athlete accommodations for the Asian Games, which officially open this week in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture, Japan, are in the "worst condition they have ever seen," warning that a serious shortage of rooms remains.
The Asian Games officially begin this Saturday (19 Sep), but football and basketball competitions have already started. This time, there is no dedicated athlete village because the organizers chose to use a cruise ship, temporary wooden huts, and multiple hotels to reduce costs.
Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association, told AFP he is very dissatisfied with the accommodations where the South Korean men's basketball team is staying. He said that based on his experience, this is the "worst lodging he has ever encountered," and athletes taller than 2 meters cannot fully stretch their legs on the beds, which is inappropriate.
South Korean basketball player Byun Joon-hyung posted a video on social media showing a leaking sink and a wet floor in the room, accompanied by a plea for help: "Please help us."
The temporary accommodations are designed to house about 2,000 athletes and officials throughout the more than two-week competition. Indian sports officials even created a model of the lodging to familiarize their athletes with the conditions before traveling.
Mr. Jung accused the organizers of not responding to South Korea's concerns and said they are currently discussing how to proceed with the Korean Sports and Olympic Committees.
Additionally, last week hundreds of athletes had to evacuate the lodgings temporarily after historic heavy rains hit Nagoya, with forecasts predicting more rain in the coming days.
This Asian Games is expected to host more than 17,000 athletes and officials, exceeding the number of participants at the Olympics. Local organizers initially estimated about 15,000 and last month admitted they lack the manpower and budget to accommodate the increased numbers.
The Olympic Council of Asia later confirmed that everyone will have accommodations, but the shortage of high-quality hotels remains a concern for many countries’ athletes, especially famous cricket players.
A South Korean Olympic Committee official told AFP that accommodation shortages persist, not only for the entire South Korean delegation but also for many delegations in the Aichi-Nagoya area. He confirmed that every effort is being made to resolve the issue and avoid lodging obstacles.
Abraham Tolentino, chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said all Filipino athletes have rooms, but some officials, such as coaches, have been moved to stay in other hotels and Airbnb rentals.
Meanwhile, the Italian cruise ship "Costa Serena" is scheduled to arrive in Nagoya on 15 September and will accommodate about 4,000–5,000 athletes and officials. The remaining participants will stay in various hotels, including in Tokyo, which hosts swimming, diving, and equestrian events.
.SourceAFP