The hosts of next month’s Asian Games in Japan have told athletes to “make their own arrangements” for accommodation after running out of rooms for them.
Initially, 15,000 athletes and officials were expected to attend the Games, which will be held in the Nagoya and Aichi region between 19 September and 4 October.
However, last week the Olympic Council of Asia confirmed the number would be closer to 17,000 after teqball – which combines elements of football and table tennis – and padel were included earlier this year.
The mayor of Nagoya and acting chairman of the local organising committee, Ichiro Hirosawa, said it was “difficult to accommodate this number” because the Games is “operating on a tight budget”.
Hideaki Omura, president of the organising committee and Governor of Aichi Prefecture, said the hosts have “neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements” for the late influx of athletes.
“The host city agreement specifies a delegation of 15,000 people,” explained Omura. “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.”
Unlike the Olympic Games, where there is a designated athletes’ village, organisers have opted to use temporary accommodation for competitors.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 athletes will stay on board the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena that will be docked in the area, while a further 2,000 will use shipping container-style huts.
The remaining athletes and officials will be accommodated in hotels in Tokyo, where swimming, diving and equestrian events are scheduled to take place.
