Home / Sports / Cruise Ship Housing Sparks Outrage at Asian Games
Cruise Ship Housing Sparks Outrage at Asian Games
15 Sep
Summary
- Athletes complain about leaking sinks and small beds.
- Temporary housing includes cruise ship and wooden huts.
- Rising costs forced organizers to cancel athlete village.
The 2026 Asian Games are experiencing significant accommodation issues, with athletes housed on the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena and in temporary wooden villas. Approximately 4,000 athletes and officials are accommodated on the 300-meter vessel, which offers 1,500 cabins. However, this plan has drawn widespread criticism.
Complaints regarding sleeping arrangements, including issues with small beds and even a flooded room from a leaking sink, have been echoed by delegations from all 45 competing nations. Heavy rain also caused a brief evacuation of temporary structures last week.
Organizers abandoned plans for a conventional athletes' village due to escalating construction costs. Instead, they have implemented a patchwork of accommodations, including the cruise ship, wooden huts, and scattered hotel rooms across the region, aiming for cost-consciousness. The Costa Serena, chartered for approximately $28 million, is a sister ship to the Costa Concordia. Organizers defend this setup as a potential blueprint for more affordable future Games, with the success of housing over 17,000 participants shaping future event strategies.
