TOKYO, Apr 3 (NNN-NHK) – Japan, host nation of the 2026 Asian Games, has decided not to build an athletes’ village, local media reported, yesterday.
The organising committee for the Games, to be held in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, in 2026 announced the decision, due to concerns over rising costs, following scandals related to the Tokyo Olympics, Nikkei reported.
To reduce costs, the committee, including the prefectural government and the city of Nagoya, is also considering reducing the number of competition events, which had been previously set at around 40.
Some questioned whether the Asian Games can run smoothly while costs are kept low, amid concerns about sponsorship income, after corruption scandals related to the Tokyo Olympics surfaced, said the report.
The event was initially expected to cost 85 billion yen (650 million U.S. dollars), including 30 billion yen for the athletes’ village.
However, due to high prices, among other factors, the construction cost of the athletes’ village had doubled to around 60 billion yen by the end of 2022, with the overall cost ballooning to about 140 billion yen, the report said, citing a person familiar with the Games.
Planning to secure hotel facilities instead to accommodate the athletes, the organisers are considering 100 potential locations, including hotels near competition venues, it added.– NNN-NHK
