Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organisers face accommodation shortfall

Organisers of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan have told some late additions to arrange their own accommodation after the expected delegation grew beyond the event's planned capacity. BBC Sport reported that the Games had originally prepared for 15,000 athletes and officials, but the Olympic Council of Asia now expects a figure closer to 17,000.

Watch the highlights:

The event is scheduled to run from September 19 to October 4 across Nagoya and the wider Aichi region. According to reporting by BBC Sport and CNA, the revised total comprises about 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials. Teqball and padel were added to the programme earlier in 2026, contributing to the increase in participants.

Nagoya mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, who is also acting chairman of the local organising committee, said accommodating the larger delegation would be difficult because the Games are operating under a tight budget. Organising committee president and Aichi governor Hideaki Omura said the host city agreement was based on 15,000 people and that no budget had been reserved for the additional number.

Omura said the organisers lacked both the personnel and funding to make the extra arrangements. He added that there was no remaining space under the existing plan and that participants outside it would have to secure accommodation themselves if they still intended to attend. The statements leave affected teams responsible for resolving their lodging before the opening ceremony.

Aichi-Nagoya 2026 does not have a single purpose-built athletes' village. Between 4,000 and 5,000 competitors are due to stay aboard the Costa Serena, an Italian cruise ship that will serve as a floating village while docked in Nagoya. The Olympic Council of Asia said the ship is scheduled to arrive on September 15, four days before the Games open.

A further 2,000 athletes are expected to use temporary, shipping-container-style accommodation. BBC Sport reported that the remaining athletes and officials will stay in hotels in Tokyo, where the swimming, diving and equestrian competitions are scheduled. The accommodation shortfall has emerged with just over three weeks remaining before the Games begin.