NAGOYA, Japan — The 2026 Asian Games are only hours away from their official opening, but a growing list of complaints from athletes and delegations has cast a shadow over the highly anticipated sporting spectacle in Aichi-Nagoya.
Instead of focusing solely on competition, some athletes have spent hours dealing with missing accommodation records, delayed transportation, registration problems, cramped rooms, inadequate facilities and long waits for food and lodging.
The Games officially open on September 19, with more than 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and territories expected to participate. The figure is larger than originally planned and exceeds the number of participants at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Athletes stuck for hours after arriving in Japan
One of the most striking complaints came from Chinese gymnastics star Zhang Boheng, a two-time world champion and two-time Paris Olympic silver medalist.
AFP reported that Zhang and several teammates waited for around six hours after landing in Japan because of registration and paperwork issues. He said he had breakfast around 7 a.m. and did not eat again until close to 7 p.m.
The situation became even more difficult when heavy rain prevented the athletes from boarding the Costa Serena, the cruise ship being used as temporary accommodation for thousands of Games participants.
Zhang said the delays effectively consumed an entire day, with some athletes eventually deciding to book hotel rooms so they could rest.
The frustration spread online, with a related hashtag reportedly receiving more than 94 million views on Weibo, according to AFP.
No traditional Athletes’ Village
A major source of the logistical challenge is the decision not to construct a conventional Athletes’ Village.
Instead, organizers are using a combination of hotels, temporary wooden container-style accommodation and the Costa Serena cruise ship.
The cruise liner is expected to accommodate about 4,000 participants, while roughly 2,000 are assigned to temporary cabins and the remainder to hotels.
Organizers have defended the approach as a cost-conscious and sustainable alternative.
But several delegations have complained that the arrangements have not always matched their needs.
South Korean athletes raise concerns over beds and facilities
South Korea has been among the most vocal delegations.
Officials complained about shortages in the temporary accommodation, while basketball players raised concerns over bed sizes.
The problem is particularly noticeable for taller athletes. South Korean officials said some athletes more than two meters tall could not properly stretch out on their beds.
South Korean basketball player Byeon Jun-hyeong also posted footage showing water leaking from a sink and spreading across the floor of his temporary accommodation. CNA reported that his post included an appeal for help.
South Korea also filed a complaint over a welcome ceremony that featured a person dressed as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese warlord associated with Japan’s invasions of Korea in the 16th century. The episode triggered criticism from the Korean delegation amid the historically sensitive relationship between the two countries.
Transportation problems add to the frustration
Accommodation has not been the only problem.
The Indian Express reported a series of transportation and registration breakdowns affecting several delegations.
In one incident, buses carrying South Korean and Qatari football teams reportedly ended up at a baseball stadium instead of their intended football venue.
Vietnam’s women’s volleyball team was also reportedly taken to the wrong hotel before having to move with luggage and equipment to their designated accommodation.
Chinese athletes faced their own difficulties after arrival. According to reporting cited by The Indian Express, only two of the 21 members of China’s gymnastics team were initially visible in the registration system, leaving the team waiting for transportation.
Other Chinese teams reportedly experienced lengthy waits, while the Chinese badminton team eventually received assistance from the Chinese Consulate General in Nagoya after difficulties securing transportation.
India and other delegations also affected
India’s delegation reported accreditation delays at the airport.
Chef de mission Sahdev Yadav told AFP that athletes encountered long immigration queues because of accreditation issues, although he described the problems as temporary and said they had been resolved.
India Today also reported that Philippine athletes had received rooms, while some members of the support staff—including coaches—were moved to hotels and Airbnb accommodations.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, meanwhile, said representatives from participating nations had raised accommodation concerns with organizers.
Organizers insist they are fixing the problems
Despite the growing criticism, Asian Games organizers say they are responding to complaints as they emerge.
Aichi-Nagoya organizing committee president Hideaki Omura said efforts were being made to address individual concerns and improve arrangements.
Organizers have argued that the temporary facilities are safe and functional, while accommodation officials have emphasized the sustainability and cost-saving rationale behind the unusual housing system.
On Friday, organizing committee chairperson Tayaab Ikram said that genuine accommodation complaints had been brought down to zero, while acknowledging that concerns can arise during a major international sporting event.
The clock is ticking
The problems come at a particularly sensitive moment.
The Asian Games are scheduled to officially open in Nagoya on September 19, with competition already underway in some sports, including football and basketball. The Games will feature 43 sports and 469 medal events, with approximately 17,000 athletes and officials participating.
For athletes who have spent months or even years preparing for the competition, the immediate priority is now simple: get settled, recover, train and compete.
But with complaints involving accommodation, transportation, registration, food and logistics continuing to emerge just before the opening ceremony, attention is increasingly turning toward whether organizers can stabilize operations once the full Games get underway.
And with thousands more athletes still arriving, the biggest test for Aichi-Nagoya may only be beginning.
