Nagoya 2026 organizers struggle to house unexpected athlete surge

The Asian Games in Japan's Nagoya and Aichi region are expecting about 17,000 athletes and officials, up from the originally planned 15,000. Local organizers say they lack the budget and space to accommodate the extra participants, so late arrivals must arrange their own lodging. Some competitors will stay on a docked cruise ship or in container-style huts, while others are placed in Tokyo hotels.

The accommodation shortfall stems from the late addition of teqball and padel to the competition program, which pushed the projected participant count roughly 2,000 people beyond the figure written into the host city agreement. Organizers had built their housing plans and financial reserves around the original 15,000-person cap, leaving no flexibility for the expanded roster.

Unlike the Olympic Games, which provides a centralized athletes' village, the Asian Games organizers assembled a patchwork of temporary housing options. The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena will accommodate the largest share of competitors, while container-style units will house another segment. Athletes competing in Tokyo-based events—swimming, diving, and equestrian—will stay in hotels near those venues, and late arrivals must secure their own lodging independently.