Asian Games Preparations Enter Final Stages with Cruise Ship Athletes Village
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Asian Games are set to begin in Japan on September 19, with approximately 15,000 competitors and officials converging on Nagoya and the wider Aichi area. Organizers have opted for unconventional accommodation solutions, including housing up to 5,000 athletes aboard the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena to cut costs. Teenage prodigies like Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala, 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi are among the notable participants.
Key Points
- The 20th Asian Games run from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya and the Aichi area, featuring approximately 15,000 competitors and officials
- Organizers hired the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena to accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 athletes; the vessel features 571 cabins, seven swimming pools, eight restaurants, and nine bars
- Additional accommodation includes 2,000 athletes in wooden shipping container-style huts at Nagoya's Garden Pier area, with others in hotels including Tokyo for swimming, diving, and equestrian events
- A flame-lighting ceremony was held in Tokyo on Tuesday, with another planned for Hiroshima on Thursday before flames converge in Nagoya on Saturday for the torch relay
- Kazuhiro Yagi, vice-secretary general of the Aichi-Nagoya Games organizing committee, stated that preparations have entered the final stages and expressed hopes that people from all over Asia will enjoy the event
Why It Matters
The Asian Games, with more athletes than the Olympics, serve as the premier multi-sport event in the continent, and this edition's creative accommodation solutions highlight organizers' efforts to manage costs while providing a memorable experience. Officials remain confident the cruise ship arrangement will withstand Japan's typhoon season, which typically peaks during September and October, ensuring the games proceed smoothly.
The Asian Games, with more athletes than the Olympics, serve as the premier multi-sport event in the continent, and this edition's creative accommodation solutions highlight organizers' efforts to manage costs while providing a memorable experience. Officials remain confident the cruise ship arrangement will withstand Japan's typhoon season, which typically peaks during September and October, ensuring the games proceed smoothly.