New Delhi: For the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region, around 4,600 athletes and officials will be housed on a luxury cruise ship docked at Nagoya’s port, forming a unique “floating village” for the duration of the Games from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
An additional 2,400 participants will stay in temporary accommodations made from converted shipping containers located a short bus ride away. Together, these two sites will host about half of the 15,000 athletes and officials expected at the event, with the remainder staying in other facilities, including Tokyo, where the swimming competitions will be held.
The organising committee opted for this cost-effective solution to avoid the expenses of building a traditional athletes’ village. However, Asian Olympic officials stressed the importance of ensuring athletes still have opportunities to socialize and interact.
Kazuhiro Yagi, vice-secretary general of the Aichi-Nagoya Games organising committee, told AFP that they carefully considered athlete feedback in planning accommodations. “The cruise ship and container houses are about 10 minutes apart by shuttle bus,” he said. “I don’t think it will be a problem for athletes to meet and interact. There are entertainment options nearby, like an aquarium, where they can relax and come together.”
The 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, set a record with about 12,000 athletes, surpassing even the Olympics in size. This will be Japan’s first time hosting the Games since Hiroshima in 1994. Despite Japan’s recent experience hosting major sporting events—including the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the 2019 Rugby World Cup—Yagi acknowledges that public awareness of the upcoming Asian Games is still limited.
“Maybe only half of Japan’s population knows the Asian Games are happening,” he said. “Young people today weren’t even born the last time the Games were held here, so we want them to discover what a great event this is.”
The Asian Games feature a diverse lineup of sports, mixing traditional Olympic events like athletics, swimming, and football with unique regional sports such as bridge, kabaddi, and dragon boat racing.
For the first time, mixed martial arts will be part of the program, reflecting Asia’s rich martial arts heritage and aiming to attract younger fans. “Including new events is essential to appeal to youth,” Yagi explained.
Esports, which made its full debut at Hangzhou with massive spectator interest, will also be featured on a large scale in Japan for the first time. Yagi emphasized esports’ broader appeal beyond younger audiences. “Esports can benefit elderly people, helping with finger dexterity and possibly combating dementia,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for all age groups to learn more about esports.”
The 2026 Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, promising a vibrant and innovative celebration of sport across the region.
