Indian residents living in Japan have volunteered to provide housing for the country’s athletes participating in the Asian Games, as officials prepare for potential lodging shortages. While the regional sporting showcase officially kicks off in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture on Saturday night, the lead-up to the event has been hampered by various logistical challenges.
Seeking to minimize expenses, organizers opted against constructing a traditional athletes’ village. Instead, they placed the 17,000 participating athletes and officials across a mix of standard hotels, a cruise ship, and temporary wooden huts. However, the arrangement has drawn criticism from many attendees, who have cited concerns over the small size of the beds and a lack of storage space for equipment.
India, which has sent a delegation of nearly 500 athletes, has already transitioned some team members from the temporary huts into hotels. Sahdev Yadav, the Indian chef de mission and treasurer for the Indian Olympic Association, confirmed that further contingency plans are active. “We have booked hotels for our athletes here,” Yadav stated. “But if the hotel rooms fall short then yes, we have Indian households here on standby to accommodate the athletes. They are all more than happy to welcome the stars at their homes.”
Reports indicate that the Indian embassy facilitated outreach to approximately 2,000 families in the Nagoya area to organize this support network. Despite the athlete complaints, organizers maintain that the selected housing remains safe and cost-effective, defending their unconventional strategy as a necessary and innovative solution for the games. The report also notes that india, who are sending almost 500 athletes to the Asian Games, have moved some from the huts into hotels and have put in place contingency plans should the shortage of suitable rooms get worse as more competitors and sup.
