Japan must not lose money ‘for nothing’, Asian Olympic official says as Nagoya Games open amid room complaints

Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said Japan should be applauded for trying to do something different amid complaints of how the country is housing the 17,000 athletes for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 4:12 PM MYT

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept 19 — Japan’s hosting of the Asian Games with huts and a cruise ship is an example for other nations if they want to stage major events without breaking the bank, a senior Olympic official said Saturday.

The build-up to Asia’s biggest sporting spectacle has been overshadowed by a shortage of accommodation in Nagoya for the more than 17,000 participants.

Some countries have also complained about the quality of the rooms, especially in the shipping container-style huts.

Japanese organisers did not build an athletes’ village, as is normally done, in a bid to cut costs.

About 4,000 participants are housed instead on cruise liner Costa Serena, which is sitting in Nagoya’s port, with another 2,000 in the wooden huts.

The rest are in hotels in the city and across Aichi prefecture.

This picture taken on August 26, 2026 shows container-type accommodation facilities for athletes of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. — AFP pic

Despite complaints from some teams, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director general Husain Al-Musallam said Japan should be applauded for trying to do something different.

“Everyone talks about the cost of the Games and how the Games should be managed, and then Japan comes up with a new idea and tries something where there is no athletes’ village,” he said.

“Because the most important thing we are taking care of as the OCA for the host is what will happen after the closing.

“What’s going to happen to your investment after the closing? We don’t want Japan to lose their money for nothing.”

Al-Musallam said nations with a desire to host major international competitions — not just the Asian Games — should take note.

“What Japan have done here, and Aichi-Nagoya and Olympic Council of Asia, could be the future example for the cost-reduction of multi-sport events such as the Asian Games,” he said.