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Asian Games Organizers Tell Athletes to Find Own Accommodation Amidst Surge in Participants

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Asian Games organizers in Japan are struggling to accommodate a surge in participants, exceeding initial estimates.
  • The number of athletes and officials has risen to nearly 17,000, up from an initial plan for 15,000.
  • Organizers cite a limited budget and insufficient manpower to arrange housing for the additional participants, urging them to make their own arrangements.

Organizers of the upcoming Asian Games in Japan have informed some athletes and officials that they must arrange their own accommodation, as the number of participants has exceeded available capacity.

The Games, scheduled to take place in the Nagoya and Aichi region from September 19 to October 4, were initially planned to host approximately 15,000 athletes and officials. However, this number has increased to nearly 17,000 following the inclusion of teqball and padel in the Games program earlier this year.

Nagoya Mayor and acting chairman of the local organizing committee, Ichiro Hirosawa, explained that accommodating the increased number presents a challenge due to the Games operating on a limited budget. Aichi Governor and organizing committee president Hideaki Omura added that the host city agreement only covered 15,000 participants, with no additional funds allocated for the extra athletes and officials.

The host city agreement specifies a delegation of 15,000 people. We have not set aside a budget for any more than that. There is simply nowhere for them to stay. If they still wish to come, they will have to make their own arrangements.

— Hideaki OmuraAichi Governor and organizing committee president explaining the accommodation shortage and the need for participants to make their own arrangements.

"The host city agreement specifies a delegation of 15,000 people," Omura stated. "We have not set aside a budget for any more than that. There is simply nowhere for them to stay. If they still wish to come, they will have to make their own arrangements." Omura further noted that the organizing committee possesses "neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements" for the additional participants.

Unlike the Olympic Games, which typically feature a dedicated athletes' village, the Asian Games will utilize a mix of temporary accommodations. Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes are expected to stay aboard the cruise ship Costa Serena, docked in the area, while another 2,000 will be housed in shipping container-style huts. The remaining participants will stay in hotels in Tokyo, where swimming, diving, and equestrian events are scheduled.

The organizing committee had neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements for the additional participants.

— Hideaki OmuraFurther elaborating on the reasons behind the accommodation crisis.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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