The hosts of next month’s Asian Games in Japan say all athletes will have accommodation for the event, after fears there would be a shortage of rooms.
Initially, 15,000 athletes and officials were expected to attend the Games, which will be held in the Nagoya and Aichi region between 19 September and 4 October.
However, last week the Olympic Council of Asia said the number would be closer to 17,000 after teqball – which combines elements of football and table tennis – and padel were included earlier this year.
In a joint statement, Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said they wanted to clear up “incorrect media reports” regarding accommodation issues.
“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 read.
“Unless there are exceptional circumstances, no further registrations have been or will be permitted.”
The mayor of Nagoya and acting chairman of the local organising committee, Ichiro Hirosawa, had earlier said it was “difficult to accommodate this number” because the Games is “operating on a tight budget”.
And Hideaki Omura, president of the organising committee and Governor of Aichi Prefecture, had said the hosts had “neither the manpower nor the budget to make the necessary arrangements” for the late influx of athletes.
“The host city agreement specifies a delegation of 15,000 people,” explained Omura. “We have not set aside a budget for any more than that.
“There is simply nowhere for them to stay. If they still wish to come, they will have to make their own arrangements.”
However, in Friday’s statement the organisers said: “The final preparations are all on track and progressing smoothly ahead of what promises to be 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 officials will be accommodated in hotels in Tokyo, where swimming, diving and equestrian events are scheduled to take place.
