Asian Games: Hosts say all athletes could have lodging

The hosts of subsequent month’s Asian Games in Japan say all athletes could have lodging for the occasion, after fears there can be a scarcity of rooms.

Initially, 15,000 athletes and officers had been anticipated to attend the Games, which can be held within the Nagoya and Aichi area between 19 September and 4 October.

However, final week the Olympic Council of Asia mentioned the quantity can be nearer to 17,000 after teqball – which mixes parts of soccer and desk tennis – and padel had been included earlier this 12 months.

In a joint assertion, Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) mentioned they needed to clear up “incorrect media reports” concerning lodging points.

“All the 17,000-plus athletes and officials that are registered for the Asian Games before the closing of Entry by Name in July have been provided with Games-appropriate accommodation,” it learn.

“Unless there are exceptional circumstances, no further registrations have been or will be permitted.”

The mayor of Nagoya and appearing chairman of the native organising committee, Ichiro Hirosawa, had earlier mentioned it was “difficult to accommodate this number” as a result of the Games is “operating on a tight budget”.

And Hideaki Omura, president of the organising committee and Governor of Aichi Prefecture, had mentioned the hosts had “neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements” for the late inflow of athletes.

“The host city agreement specifies a delegation of 15,000 people,” defined Omura. “We have not set aside a budget for any more than that.

“There is just nowhere for them to remain. If they nonetheless want to come, they should make their very own preparations.”

However, in Friday’s statement the organisers said: “The closing preparations are all on observe and progressing easily forward of what guarantees to be essentially the most spectacular Asian Games held for generations.”

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 officers can be accommodated in lodges in Tokyo, the place swimming, diving and equestrian occasions are scheduled to happen.