appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Agence France-Presse

IOC president Kirsty Coventry called the shipping container-style huts for Asian Games athletes “beautiful” on Sunday – but conceded they were “a little tighter” than similar accommodation at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Asia’s biggest sporting spectacle, which opened on Saturday in the Japanese city of Nagoya, has split with past Games by having no traditional athletes’ village.
To save costs, the more than 17,000 Asian Games participants will stay in temporary huts, hotels and a cruise ship.
Some countries have criticised the wooden cabins as too small, with beds that are too short.
But after touring the lodgings, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Coventry said she could not understand the negativity.
“We had similar cabins in Milano-Cortina [Winter Games this year] and the athletes were very happy. And the cabins here are really nice,” the Zimbabwean former Olympic champion swimmer said.

“They’re a little tighter. So, you know, if you want something negative, it’s a little smaller.
“But I don’t think it’s a negative thing. I love the village.”
About 2,000 participants are staying in the lodgings by the water in Nagoya.
Coventry said: “The cabins are quiet, they’re very cool. The air conditioning is working well.
“The flooring and the walls are beautiful. It’s better than some of the villages I’ve stayed in.
“So I think to be very fair to Japan and to the organising committee, I was really impressed.
“I had only been reading everything that had been said. And I was expecting something completely different to when I walked in.”
Asked if she would happily see the temporary cabins and also a cruise ship serve as accommodation at the Olympics, she said she had not been to the vessel.
But she pointed to the accommodation at Milano-Cortina, and said those “very closely” resembled the ones in Nagoya.
“It’s not a new concept,” she added. “And it is a concept that I think, for me, when we talk about an athlete experience, being an athlete ... as soon as I go in, I’m not necessarily concerned about the look.”


Asian Games 200m butterfly gold just the start for Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi, 13

Asian Games: Hong Kong women claim historic swim silver, Yu leads China domination

IOC president impressed by ‘beautiful’ Asian Games shipping container-style huts

Hong Kong’s Asian Games relay silver the big surprise on day when results went as expected

Asian Games 2026

Asia’s biggest sporting spectacle  has split with past Games by having no traditional athletes’ village. Photo: AFP

IOC president Kirsty Coventry (left) attends the opening ceremony of the Asian Games. Photo: AFP

Grace Lau upgraded her medal in the Asian Games karate competition at the Toyohashi Gymnasium. Photo: Sam Tsang

Siobhan Haughey (second from right) with the Hong Kong 4x100m freestyle relay team. Photo: Robert Ng

Takumi Hojo of Japan won the men’s individual triathlon on Sunday. Photo: AP

Yu Zidi won the women’s 200m butterfly by more than three seconds, Photo: Robert Ng

Asian Games open with sparkling ceremony, message of unity following chaotic build-up

The opening ceremony turned attention to the athletes who will be competing over the next fortnight, including the delegation from Hong Kong. Photo: Robert Ng

The opening ceremony was created by famed Japanese filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Photo: Sam Tsang

China received the second largest round of applause after the hosts. Photo: Robert Ng

Sport

Other Sport

Kirsty Coventry admits the cabins are ‘a little tighter’ than similar accommodation at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year


Kirsty Coventry admits the cabins are ‘a little tighter’ than similar accommodation at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year.


IOC president impressed by ‘beautiful’ Asian Games shipping container-style huts

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kirsty Coventry admits the cabins are ‘a little tighter’ than similar accommodation at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year

Kirsty Coventry admits the cabins are ‘a little tighter’ than similar accommodation at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year