Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, which will serve as accommodation for 4,000 to 5,000 participants during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, docked at the port of Nagoya, Japan, on Sept. 15, 2026. Photo by Reuters

Instead of constructing a traditional large-scale village for athletes, host nation Japan arranged accommodation in converted shipping containers at Garden Pier to save costs, but it sparked debates about living conditions for athletes.

The China men's basketball team raised concerns about the accomodation conditions recently. A Chinese media representative present in Nagoya stated on social media that athletes are staying in small rooms converted from containers, with three people sharing a single toilet and shower, describing the setup as terrible, according to the South China Morning Post.

Organizers installed the 200 units to accommodate around 2,000 people during the Asian Games, which will start on Sept. 19, and will reuse them for 1,000 participants during the Asian Para Games in October.

The container housing plan replaced the original proposal to build a traditional village after rising construction and material costs forced organizers to change their strategy.

According to the plan, some 9,000 athletes will stay in hotels, while 4,000 will be housed on the cruise ship and 2,000 will stay in a complex of container units, JoongAng Daily reported.

Following the events, the units are slated for reuse across Japan for disaster relief purposes.

When the container units were introduced in April, they were described as compact yet comfortable. According to TV Aichi, each 70-sq.m unit features a kitchen area, fridge and a bathroom with a separate shower stall. The design also takes into account the needs of athletes with disabilities.

Members of the athletes' commission also had positive feedback after touring the site. Para-badminton athlete Noriko Ito stated the site made her feel like she could live here, while para-judo athlete Makoto Hirose admitted that the space might be compact but didn not feel cramped, adding that athletes could go about their daily routines comfortably.

Debate intensified in early September when heavy rains in Nagoya caused flooding. Approximately 400 athletes and officials staying in the container units were temporarily evacuated to higher ground. They returned safely without any reported injuries. Roof leaks also appeared at some competition venues.

The organizers maintain that suitable accommodation has been arranged for all registered athletes and officials, dismissing reports of issues.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Organizing Committee announced on Aug. 29 that all timely registered delegates have been provided with accommodation appropriate for a major sporting event.

The container complex also includes delegation headquarters, a service center, a dining area and an outdoor social space for cultural programs. The medical area features ice baths, while a 24-hour fitness center operates alongside a convenience shop for athletes.

Organizers are providing shuttle buses to connect the container units at Garden Pier with the cruise ship area at Kinjo Pier, aiming to create an interactive accommodation zone as an alternative to the traditional village model.

The 2026 Asian Games will feature over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories competing in 469 events across 43 sports. Japan boasts the largest contingent with 932 athletes, followed by China, South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Vietnam is the 13th largest delegation with 349 athletes, with the target to secure at least four gold medals.