South Korea slams Asian Games housing as 'worst ever'
South Korean officials have criticized the accommodation at the Asian Games in Japan as the worst ever, citing cramped beds and leaking facilities. The games lack a dedicated athletes' village, relying on cruise ships and temporary cabins. Organizers say they lacked resources to address the shortage.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games are housing roughly 2,000 athletes and officials in temporary cabins, with organisers having anticipated only 15,000 participants before the figure climbed past 17,000. South Korea's basketball delegation reported beds too short for players over two metres tall, while a social media video showed a leaking sink flooding a cabin floor. Indian officials constructed replica cabins to acclimatise their athletes, and the Philippine delegation moved some coaches into hotels and Airbnb rentals. Heavy rainfall last week forced hundreds of athletes to evacuate briefly, with more wet weather forecast during the competition.
Organisers have acknowledged they lacked the staffing and funding to address the shortfall, though the Olympic Council of Asia insisted every participant would receive accommodation. The games officially open Saturday, with football and basketball already underway.
This dispute could strain diplomatic and sporting relations between South Korea and Japan, two regional rivals, at a moment when the games are meant to foster cooperation. Athletes competing under substandard conditions may see performance and morale suffer, potentially affecting results and public perception of the event. The housing crisis may also prompt future host cities to reassess cost-cutting measures, as the reputational damage from visible complaints could outweigh initial savings.