Asian Games 2026: Sports Ministry reaches out to Indian diaspora amid accommodation crisis in Nagoya | Today’s news
Concerned about the accommodation crisis at the Asian Games, the Sports Ministry has appealed to the Indian diaspora in Nagoya to help secure accommodation for athletes should there be a shortage of rooms during the continental event, which starts on Saturday.
The Ministry of Sports is reaching out to the Indian diaspora to help provide accommodation for the Nagoya athletes
Several athletes, including members of the Indian contingent, complained about the delay in getting accommodation. Since there is no dedicated village for the athletes, to keep costs down, participants were accommodated in container units, a docked cruise ship and hotels.
Read also | 2026 Asian Games Opening Ceremony: Manu Bhaker, India’s Tajinderpal flag bearers
India’s chief of mission Sahdev Yadav said on Friday that around 35 Indian athletes have already been shifted to hotels after the organizers failed to provide them with designated accommodation.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
The Ministry of Sports is reaching out to the Indian diaspora in Nagoya to help arrange accommodation for athletes facing accommodation delays, while also prioritizing good hotels for them to stay.
Athletes face accommodation problems due to the lack of a dedicated athlete village, resulting in delays and reliance on alternative accommodation such as container units and hotels.
The Indian diaspora is asked to remain on standby to provide additional accommodation if needed, with the embassy reaching out to around 2,000 Indian families for support.
Concerns include delayed check-in, inadequate equipment and reports of athletes from other countries waiting up to ten hours for accommodation, prompting criticism of the event’s organisation.
The Sports Ministry is actively monitoring the situation to prevent Indian athletes from facing the same accommodation delays witnessed by participants from other countries.
The situation could get complicated when more athletes arrive according to their competition schedule. For example, the Indian badminton players had to be shifted to a hotel after facing delays in getting their allotted rooms and will remain there for now.
A traveling sports ministry official said the ministry had asked the Indian diaspora to remain on standby in case additional accommodation was needed.
A senior ministry official, who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity, said the Indian embassy has helped reach around 2,000 Indian families in Nagoya. Several families have reportedly offered to help if the housing shortage worsens.
“The first priority would be to accommodate the athletes in good hotels, but if there is still a demand for more rooms, there is the Indian diaspora to turn to,” the official said.
Read also | Who is Shree Charani? India spinner stars vs Japan at Asian Games 2026
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also arrived in the port city and briefly attended the flag hoisting ceremony on Friday. The event itself was delayed by more than an hour due to what was described as a “miscommunication” between the Olympic Council of Asia and the local organizing committee.
The ministry said it is confident that support from the diaspora can help manage the situation if needed.
“The diaspora has been very cooperative and helping in every possible way, including assisting the athletes at the airport and guiding them to the welcome center,” the official said.
Two members of the Chef de Mission staff will also remain available at the airport to receive incoming athletes. The official said the athletes should be able to identify the Indian officials wearing the jerseys at the airport, which would help them feel more comfortable upon arrival.
The ministry is also trying to prevent Indian athletes from facing the same delays reported by participants from other countries. Some athletes were reportedly forced to wait up to nine to ten hours before receiving accommodation.
“The ministry cannot watch Indian athletes suffer the same fate as athletes from other countries,” the official said, adding that steps have been taken to ensure that Indian athletes do not face similar hardships.
Read also | INDW vs JAPW Highlights, Asian Games 2026 Quarter Finals: India Qualifies for Semi Finals
The accommodation arrangements drew criticism from several participating countries, with South Korea among the most vocal over the facilities and organisation.
However, the Olympic Council of Asia rejected the criticism. She said attempts are being made to use the situation on social media to exploit the issue and politicize the games.
Nearly 11,000 athletes are expected to compete in 43 sports by October 4. The Asian Games are bigger than the Olympics in terms of participation and overall roster size.
A sports ministry official also said it was monitoring the ongoing crisis involving hockey in India. The ministry has asked the franchises of Hockey India and the Hockey India League to resolve their differences so that the league is not jeopardized and government intervention is not necessary.
