Indians living in Japan on stand-by to house athletes

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

India has arranged hotel accommodations for its nearly 500 athletes at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya but has prepared backup plans involving local Indian families hosting athletes due to concerns over housing shortages. This contingency highlights ongoing challenges with the Games' unconventional lodging strategy, which replaces a traditional athletes' village with a mix of hotels, container-style huts, and a cruise ship.

As the 2026 Asian Games officially began in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture on September 19, India has prepared contingency plans to accommodate its athletes amid ongoing concerns over housing shortages. With nearly 500 Indian competitors participating in the event, officials have arranged for hotel accommodations but are also ready to rely on the local Indian community in Japan if necessary.

Organizers opted not to build a traditional athletes’ village, instead providing lodging through a mix of hotels, temporary wooden container-style huts, and even a cruise ship to host the approximately 17,000 athletes and officials attending the Games. This approach, intended to reduce costs, has faced criticism from some participants who reported inadequate room features such as limited storage space and beds that are too small.

India’s chef de mission, Sahdev Yadav, who also serves as treasurer of the Indian Olympic Association, confirmed that while many of the country’s athletes have been moved from the container huts to hotels, alternative arrangements remain in place in case accommodation shortages worsen as the competition progresses. “We have booked hotels for our athletes here,” Yadav said. “But if the hotel rooms fall short then yes, we have Indian households here on standby to accommodate the athletes. They are all more than happy to welcome the stars at their homes.”

The Indian embassy in Japan reportedly helped coordinate this effort by contacting about 2,000 Indian families residing in Nagoya, some of whom have expressed willingness to host athletes in their homes if needed.

Meanwhile, event organizers have defended the accommodation arrangements as safe, cost-effective, and comfortable. They emphasized that Japan’s creative approach to housing athletes should be recognized for its innovation and resourcefulness during the large-scale sporting event.

As the Asian Games proceed, the adequacy of the unconventional lodging strategy will continue to draw attention, particularly as additional competitors and support personnel arrive.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.