The 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will break tradition by doing away with the Games Village, the usual hub for athletes during the competition. Instead, athletes and officials will be accommodated in hotels and cruise ships. This decision was announced by former Japan Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda during the 44th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
Takeda explained that the Games, being co-hosted by the Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, would not be centralized in one location. To accommodate the athletes, the organizing committee has made arrangements for 4,000 athletes and officials on cruise ships in addition to hotel rooms.
This unconventional approach has raised concerns among some OCA members, including representatives from Kuwait and Palestine. They voiced their concerns that this departure from tradition would deviate from the spirit of the Games, which often emphasizes the shared experience and camaraderie fostered within the Games Village.
Newly elected OCA president Randhir Singh also expressed his disapproval of the decision. “We should be in one place so the village is most important to keep the youth together. The village life is most important,” he stated.
Furthermore, Singh hinted that the OCA is contemplating a reduction in the number of participants in both team and individual events. He suggested that the number of participating teams in sports like football could be reduced to the top 8, and the number of athletes participating in individual events could be restricted to two or three per nation.
These proposed changes highlight the OCA’s focus on streamlining the Games, potentially leading to a more focused and cost-effective competition. However, the decision to eliminate the Games Village and potentially reduce participation levels has sparked debate about the future direction of the Asian Games and the importance of tradition versus practicality.
