Japan’s decision to avoid an athletes’ village sparked criticism but also praise from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which highlighted its cost-saving approach.
Japan’s Unconventional Hosting Model
OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam defended Japan’s strategy, calling it a potential blueprint for future events. 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, emphasizing the financial prudence of the setup. About 4,000 participants were housed on the Costa Serena cruise ship, while 2,000 occupied container-style huts, with the rest in hotels in the city and across Aichi prefecture.
Despite complaints from some teams about cramped conditions and inadequate storage, organizers maintained the arrangement was safe, cost-effective and comfortable. The most important thing we are taking care of as the OCA for the host is what will happen after the closing,
Al-Musallam added, warning against Japan losing money on the event. The OCA has also dismissed criticism, suggesting attempts to exploit the situation on social media and politicise the event in the process.
Indian Diaspora as a Contingency Plan
India’s Sports Ministry proactively engaged the Indian diaspora in Nagoya to address lodging concerns, with officials confirming 2,000 families prepared to host athletes if hotel shortages worsened. The sports ministry has reached out to the Indian diaspora to be on standby to help it with the accommodation of its athletes in case there is shortage of rooms for them during the course of the Asian Games,
a travelling Ministry official stated.
India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav revealed 35 Indian athletes had already been shifted to hotels due to not getting their designated accommodation from the organisers. The first priority would be to accommodate the athletes in good hotels but if there is still a requirement for more rooms there is the Indian diaspora to fall back on,
he said. The diaspora’s cooperation extended beyond lodging, with families assisting athletes at the airport by guiding them to the welcome area.
The Indian embassy facilitated the outreach, connecting with around 2,000 families in Nagoya who expressed willingness to help. The diaspora has been very cooperative and they are helping in every way possible,
a senior sports ministry official said. This plan came amid concerns over the quality of container-style huts, which some athletes complained about, saying rooms have no storage space for kit and the beds are too small.
Preparing Athletes for Unfamiliar Conditions
To acclimate athletes to Japan’s unique setup, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) created simulation units at its Patiala and Bengaluru centers. Athletes spent nights in shipping container replicas, mirroring the conditions they would face in Japan. The idea is to make the unfamiliar familiar,
said SAI Deputy Director General Vineet Kumar. And they don’t feel claustrophobic or feel what sort of accommodation we have come in.
Two-time Asian Games gold medallist Tajinderpal Singh Toor praised the initiative, noting the containers were quite nice on the inside
despite their compact size. Commonwealth Games bronze medallist discus thrower Seema Kaliramna, however, admitted initial challenges adjusting to the space. It was a bit difficult to adjust because throwers take a little more space and this is quite small,
she said, adding that the simulation eased her concerns about the unfamiliar setup.
The SAI’s efforts included functional design elements, such as storage cabinets under beds and shared amenities, to maximize space. The initiative also aligned with sustainability goals, repurposing containers used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The athletes have given a positive feedback,
Kumar said.
With the Games officially underway, the focus remains on ensuring athletes can compete without logistical distractions. As Al-Musallam noted, 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.
For India, the combination of hotel accommodations, diaspora support, and pre-Games simulations aims to mitigate risks and keep the team focused on performance.