‘Find your own room’: Japan says no more space, money for ballooning Asian Games numbers

Athletes already staying in a cruise ship and shipping containers, but with new sports added, organisers say there is no budget to house more

Japanese organisers have told late additions to next month’s Asian Games to find their own accommodation, saying they don’t have the money or space to deal with ballooning competitor numbers.

About 15,000 athletes and officials were initially expected at the Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4.

That was already more than the Olympics, but the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) last week put the number at 17,000 – 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials.

There is no dedicated athletes’ village, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.

Organising committee president Hideaki Omura told reporters that they had “neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements” for extra participants.