The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have encountered a series of logistical problems just days before the official opening, with athletes and officials reporting accommodation issues, water leaks and transportation mishaps across Nagoya.
The Games are scheduled to officially open on September 19 and run through October 4, but preparations have already attracted attention after severe weather and several transport failures complicated the arrival and movement of delegations.
Athletes face unusual accommodation setup
Unlike many major international sporting events, Aichi-Nagoya did not build a single traditional athletes’ village.
Instead, organizers are housing participants across existing hotels, a cruise ship and temporary container-style accommodations. Reuters reported that about 17,000 athletes and officials are being accommodated through the various arrangements.
Around 4,000 participants are staying aboard the Costa Serena cruise ship at Nagoya Port, while others are assigned to hotels or temporary housing.
The unusual arrangement was designed in part around cost and sustainability considerations, but complaints have emerged over space, facilities and travel distances to competition venues.
Heavy rain exposes leaks
Weather has added another complication.
Nagoya experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall earlier this month, causing flooding and transportation disruptions in parts of the city. Around 400 athletes and team officials who had already arrived were temporarily moved to safer locations, according to earlier reports.
The rain also exposed vulnerabilities at some temporary accommodation facilities.
South Korean basketball player Byun Jun-hyung posted footage showing water on a bathroom floor in the team’s accommodation, drawing attention to concerns about leaks and living conditions.
Organizers have said they are working to address accommodation complaints and have established a 24-hour resident center to respond to problems.
Then the buses started going the wrong way
Transportation has become another major headache.
On September 15, buses carrying the South Korean and Qatari men’s football teams reportedly went to an adjacent baseball stadium instead of the rugby stadium where their Asian Games match was scheduled.
Both teams eventually reached the correct venue approximately 30 minutes late, leaving players with limited time before warm-ups.
The incident was not isolated.
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the Vietnam women’s volleyball team had previously been dropped at the wrong hotel and had to make their way to the correct accommodation with their luggage and equipment.
Airport shuttle problems add to the pressure
Another transportation problem was reported on September 16 at Aichi Sky Expo, near Chubu Centrair International Airport.
NDTV reported that numerous athletes and officials experienced long delays because the official shuttle system reportedly could not locate information for a significant number of arriving participants.
Some members of China’s delegation reportedly waited for hours for transportation, while China’s badminton team sought alternative arrangements before eventually leaving the venue. Other delegations also reportedly experienced lengthy waits.
The reports have added to concerns about whether the Games’ transportation system can handle the unusually dispersed accommodation and venue arrangements.
Organizers face a race against time
The logistical problems come as organizers prepare for one of Asia’s largest sporting events, with thousands of competitors and officials moving between venues across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya.
The absence of a conventional athletes’ village means transportation is particularly important because participants are distributed across multiple locations rather than concentrated in one complex.
Organizers have acknowledged accommodation concerns and said measures are being taken to improve conditions and respond to delegations’ needs. Reuters reported that officials also attributed some of the accommodation pressure to the number of participants rising beyond earlier expectations.
Despite the problems, Japanese officials have maintained that the Games will proceed as scheduled.
The question now is whether organizers can resolve the remaining transportation and accommodation issues before the opening ceremony—and keep them from becoming a bigger story once competition begins.
The countdown is almost over. The real test for Aichi-Nagoya begins when thousands of athletes need to get to the right place, at the right time, under the spotlight.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
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