In a first, the 2026 Asian Games to be staged in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will not have a Games Village and the athletes will be accommodated in hotels and cruise ships instead. (More Sports News)
Inღ his address during the 44th General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia on Sunday, former Japan Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda, informed that contಞinental showpiece to be co-hosted by the Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya will have no Olympic village.
"We have arranged for cruise ships for 4,000 athletes and officials besides h⛄otel rooms," added Takeda, the vice president of 2026 Asian Games.
The idea, however, did not go downꦉ well with many OCA memꦡbers, like Kuwait and Palestine, who raised concerns, stating that such a move will not be in line with the spirit of the Games.
"We will not have the Games Village a꧅s the Games will be held in two prefectures. Instead we are trying our best to accommodate athletes and dignitaries in hotels and cruise ships," Takeda said while briefing about the Games preparations.
Newly-ꦫelected OCA president Randhir Singh is also not happy with the𓃲 idea.
"We should be in one place so the village is most important to keep the youth together. The village life is most imp𝓰ortant," he said.
Randhir hinted that the OCA is thinking on culling the number of participation in team as well as ind൲ividual events.
"Last time 15,0000 athletes in 40 sports participated, last time there were 32 teams in football but this time we would lik🍸e to reduce the numbers like top 8 teams.
"It is going to be in individual events ꦫalso𒉰. We need to restrict the numbers, can't have more than 2 or 3 representations," he said.
