The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, touted as Asia's largest sports festival, has been marred by cost-cutting measures throughout its preparation. Instead of constructing an athletes' village, the organizing committee housed teams on cruise ships, in container-style accommodations, and in hotels. The financial burden of these savings has fallen squarely on the athletes.
The issue began with rising costs. A combination of inflation, increased labor costs, and a weak yen led the organizing committee and Aichi Prefecture to scrap plans for an athletes' village, resulting in a savings of 102 billion yen (approximately $880 million). Despite these cuts, the total expenses for the games, including the Asian Para Games, ballooned to nearly 298 billion yen (about $2.57 billion), nearly three times the initial estimate. Consequently, the organizing committee's chairman, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura, stated in August that they could only budget for 15,000 athletes and officials, adding, "If they come, they will have to manage on their own." In reality, over 17,000 athletes and officials have gathered.
This tight budget has led to operational shortcomings. The Thai Sepak Takraw team was unable to check into their cruise ship and had to sleep in the lobby. The container accommodations featured only one air conditioner, and taller athletes reported difficulty stretching out. On the day of the men's basketball final, the South Korean team had to cancel practice when their bus failed to arrive. Badminton events were compressed into five days, forcing top-ranked player An Se-young (Samsung Life) to compete in two matches in one day. Some athletes waited until after midnight to finish their events. In response to the growing controversy, organizing committee secretary-general Satoshi Murate acknowledged the mistakes in lodging and transportation on September 26 and issued a formal apology.
For athletes, the Asian Games represent a stage they prepare for over three to four years, or even longer. Some events offer qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and for South Korean male athletes, military service issues are at stake. In competitions where medal outcomes can hinge on mere fractions of a second, the conditions for rest, travel, and scheduling can significantly impact performance. If the cost savings have compromised athletes' conditions, it is difficult to call that a success. Once lost, medals and qualification spots cannot be reclaimed.
Reactions from various stakeholders have been critical. Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council, pointed out on September 24 that "accommodations, transportation, and training environments are affecting athletes' performances." When asked to compare the event to other international competitions, he bluntly stated, "If we were to grade it, it would be an F." Local enthusiasm has also been lukewarm, with empty seats visible throughout the opening ceremony and only 1 million tickets sold by September 28, less than half of the total 2.3 million available.
However, the approach of cost-cutting itself cannot be entirely blamed. The challenge of managing venues that become white elephants after the event and the ever-increasing costs of hosting large sports events is a long-standing issue. The attempt to minimize new construction and utilize existing facilities is commendable. Yet, if this experiment compromises athletes' rest, travel, and performance, the narrative changes. More effort should have been made to connect dispersed accommodations and venues effectively.
The games will continue until October 4. For the remaining schedule, athletes should be able to focus solely on their competitions without worrying about accommodations and transportation. The true stars of the Asian Games are the athletes. This should be the last time a tournament shifts the burden of cost savings onto them.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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