South Korean Officials Condemn ‘Worst Ever’ Accommodation at Asian Games

South Korean officials have described the accommodation at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan as the “worst ever,” raising serious concerns about a critical shortage of rooms ahead of the event’s start this week.

Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association (KBA), stated on Monday that beds in the shipping container-style temporary huts are too short for players to stretch out. Meanwhile, officials from the Philippines were forced to seek alternative lodging via Airbnb.

The organizers did not construct a dedicated athletes’ village for the games, opting instead to utilize a combination of a cruise ship, temporary wooden cabins, and local hotels to reduce costs.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially open on Saturday, although preliminary matches in football and basketball are already underway.

Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association (KBA), voiced strong dissatisfaction with the cabins housing the men’s basketball team. “Based on my experience, this is the worst it has ever been,” he remarked, adding that athletes exceeding two meters in height cannot even stretch their legs on the beds, calling the setup highly unreasonable.

Byeon Jun-hyeong, a member of the basketball team, shared a video on social media depicting a leaking sink and a flooded floor inside his hut, accompanied by a plea: “Please help us.”

These temporary huts are slated to house approximately 2,000 athletes and officials over the course of the more than two-week-long games.

Concerned about their athletes, Indian sports officials constructed cabin replicas to help team members acclimate to the games’ substandard living conditions.

Jung of the KBA accused the organizers of failing to address South Korea’s official concerns. “The organizers have still not said anything,” he stated, noting that they are in extensive discussions with the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee to determine how to proceed.

Adding to the logistical challenges, hundreds of athletes were briefly evacuated from their accommodation last week as record-breaking rainfall battered Nagoya, with more heavy rain forecast for the coming days.

Severe Accommodation Shortage Plagues Asian Games

Over 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to attend the games, a turnout larger than that of the Olympic Games.

Organizers had initially anticipated around 15,000 participants but argued last month that they lacked both the manpower and budget to accommodate the ballooning numbers.

The Olympic Council of Asia subsequently assured that every participant would be provided with accommodation.

Prominent cricketers have also voiced concerns regarding the lack of high-quality hotel accommodations.

A Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) official confirmed that significant issues remain just days before the games. “At the moment, there is a serious shortage of accommodation not only for the entire South Korean delegation but for international delegations across the Aichi-Nagoya area,” the official stated, adding that efforts are underway to fully resolve the situation.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino noted that all athletes from his country were successfully secured rooms, though some coaches and officials had to be relocated to different hotels and private Airbnb listings.

To help manage the massive influx, the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena is scheduled to arrive in Nagoya on Tuesday, serving as temporary housing for between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes.

The remaining participants will be accommodated in hotels, including facilities in Tokyo where swimming, diving, and equestrian events are scheduled to be held.

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