Asian Games housing concerns grow

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE: Substandard plumbing, beds too small for competitors, and insufficient housing overall are some of the concerns plaguing teams as the Games start

Accommodation at the Asian Games starting this week in Japan is the “worst ever,” South Korean officials said on Monday, adding there was “a serious shortage” of rooms.

Beds in shipping container-style accommodations are too short for players to stretch out, a South Korean basketball chief said, while officials from the Philippines resorted to Airbnb.

There is no dedicated athletes’ village at the Games, with organizers using a cruise ship, temporary cabins and hotels in a bid to cut costs.

People walk past the Chubu Electric Power Mirai Tower ahead of the Asian Games yesterday in Nagoya, Japan.

Photo: Reuters

The Games in the city of Nagoya and Aichi prefecture officially open on Saturday but soccer and basketball matches are already under way.

Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association, said he was deeply unhappy with the cabins where the men’s basketball team are staying.

“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, from the basketball team, posted a video on social media showing a leaking sink and soaked floor in his hut, captioning it “Please help us.”

The huts are meant to house 2,000 athletes and officials over the more than two weeks of the Games.

Indian sports chiefs are so worried about the cabins that they built replicas to help get their athletes used to them.

Jung said organizers had not responded to South Korea’s concerns.

“The organizers have still not said anything,” Jung said. “We are very concerned and are discussing extensively with the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee what to do about this.”

Hundreds of athletes were temporarily evacuated from their accommodation last week as record rainfall lashed Nagoya. More rain has been forecast in the coming days.

More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected at the Games — a larger number than the Olympics.

Local organizers were expecting 15,000 and said last month that they had “neither the manpower nor the budget” to deal with ballooning numbers.

The Olympic Council of Asia said that everyone would get a place to stay.

Star cricketers have voiced fears about a lack of top-notch hotels.

A South Korean Olympic committee official said that, with the Games just days away, there are problems.

“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.”

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said that all his country’s athletes had been given a room, but “some officials, like coaches, were moved to different hotels and Airbnbs.”

Asian Games organizers did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena is due to arrive in Nagoya on Tuesday.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes would stay aboard the vessel.

The rest would be in hotels, including in Tokyo, where swimming, diving and equestrian events would take place.