logo
Room with a view: At 2026 Asian Games, athletes to stay at ‘Floating Village' on board luxury cruise liner

Room with a view: At 2026 Asian Games, athletes to stay at ‘Floating Village' on board luxury cruise liner

Indian Express01-05-2025

When thousands of athletes return to their rooms after intense, high-pressure matches during next year's Asian Games, they will be greeted by a sight that will instantly heal them: an unobstructed view of the ocean.
To reduce the massive costs incurred by constructing a dedicated Athletes' Village, the organisers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asiad, to be held from September 19 to October 4, have come up with a novel plan — to create a floating village on a cruise ship.
In a departure from tradition, the 2026 Asian Games organisers have said that instead of the usual brick-and-mortar buildings that make the Athletes' Village, approximately 4,600 athletes will be housed in a luxury cruise liner that will be docked at Japan's shipping hub Nagoya.
The floating Games Village will be based at the Kinjo Pier in Nagoya Port and will include a balcony with an ocean view, giving the athletes a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience, the organisers said.
The plans were revealed during the first technical delegates meeting in Nagoya on Wednesday. Organisers said that athletes from 20 sports whose competition venues are close to Nagoya Port will be accommodated in the liner.
Asian Games Villas, described as temporary container homes, will be constructed for 2,400 participants at a nearby Pier. Together, they will form the two elements of the Asian Games Athletes' Plaza, which will be connected by a 15-minute shuttle bus ride over 6.5km, according to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The rest of the athletes and officials will be put up in hotel rooms.
The OCA added that the athletes from following 20 sports will be accommodated on the cruise liner: archery, basketball 3×3, canoe/kayak (sprint), cycling – mountain bike, cycling – BMX Racing, football (men), gymnastics, handball, judo, kabaddi, kurash, mixed martial arts, rowing, rugby, sepaktakraw, sport climbing, squash, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organisers decided against constructing a brand-new Athletes Village to cut costs. Earlier, the Nagoya racecourse was one of the sites being considered for the normal Village.
However, according to a 2023 Asahi Shimbun report, the costs of the Games rose by more than 60 percent to approximately $927 million.
Speaking after Wednesday's meeting, the technical delegate for BMX Racing, Max Mager, called the idea 'unique'. 'This has never been done before in the Asian Games – to have a cruise ship docked in the port as the Asian Games Village,' he was quoted as saying by the OCA.
However, the Singapore national added a tinge of caution, saying the athletes would have 'no problem on the liner' if 'the ship offered the usual village services such as catering, a gymnasium and storage for equipment.'
The Asian Games are bigger in participation numbers compared to the Olympics. At the previous edition in Hangzhou, China, close to 12,000 athletes from 45 countries took part.
India sent a contingent of 661 athletes, who won a record 106 medals including 28 gold. It was the first time India crossed the 100-medal mark at the Asian Games.
Earlier this week, the 2026 Games organisers added T20 cricket to the programme after the initial uncertainty over its place. The venue, however, is yet to be finalised.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Who are the 7 inducted into ICC Hall of fame?
Who are the 7 inducted into ICC Hall of fame?

The Hindu

time2 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Who are the 7 inducted into ICC Hall of fame?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday (June 9, 2025) announced the addition of seven veterans of the game into the ICC Hall of Fame. Here is a look at the seven inductees: From lifting India's first T20 World Cup in 2007 with a young, untested squad, to guiding the Men in Blue to a historic 2011 ODI World Cup win at home, and adding the Champions Trophy in 2013, Dhoni remains the only captain in cricket history to win all three ICC white-ball trophies. His leadership brought calm to chaos, turning pressure into opportunity and dreams into triumphs. With over 10,000 ODI runs at an astonishing average of 50.57, his legacy with the bat is as impactful as it is enduring. Behind the stumps, Dhoni was a phenomenon. His lightning-fast stumpings and razor-sharp anticipation revolutionised wicketkeeping in limited-overs cricket. Matthew Hayden was an opening batter for Australia for 16 years. He briefly took Brian Lara's test record with 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth, and hit three centuries while winning the 2007 ODI World Cup. His stats include the 61 ODIs – 6,133 runs at an average of 43.80, 103 Tests – 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73. Hasim Amla spent 13 hours scoring South Africa's first triple century, 311 against England at the Oval in 2012. He also rose to No. 1 in the ODI rankings. He has a total of 55 international centuries. Graeme Smith became South Africa's youngest captain at 22. He led in a world record 109 tests and won 53, including the Proteas' first series win in Australia in 2008-09 in which he played with a broken hand. In 117 Tests, he scored 9,265 runs at an average of 48.25, with 8 wickets. In ODIs, out of 197 matches, he secured 6,989 runs at an average of 37.98. Kiwi legendary left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has also been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Finishing with more than 700 international wickets and close to 7000 international runs, Vettori's career was defined by adaptability, intelligence, and understated excellence with bat and ball. Vettori paved out an excellent career as a player and was one of just three players to score 4,000 runs and take 300 wickets in Test cricket. Sana Mir led Pakistan for seven of her 15 years in the team, winning two Asian Games. She started as a pace bowler, but a stress fracture forced her to switch to off-spin. She retired as Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in ODIs and second second-highest in T20s. In 120 ODIs, she bagged 1,630 runs with an average of 17.91, 151 wickets. Sarah Taylor set the standard for women wicketkeepers with a record 232 dismissals across the formats. She was a key contributor in England's ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup double in 2009 and another ODI World Cup triumph in 2017.

Chennai girl makes a smashing hit in the US
Chennai girl makes a smashing hit in the US

New Indian Express

time8 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Chennai girl makes a smashing hit in the US

To taste this milestone, Krishna had to go through a fair bit. Be it getting body shamed for her 'muscular build,' suffering from bad mental health, for the better part of the past decade, Krishna had endured a lot. However, she was determined, and the rewards came along with time. 'Firstly, I learnt that life begins at the end of comfort. After I moved to Jamaica with track and field coach Michael Vessel (from Tenvic Sports, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh) to train further, I missed out on opportunities for scholarships with throws being one centimetre short. That's when I worked really hard and earned myself a full academic and athletic scholarship from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP),' she shared. After a year at UTEP, Krishna moved to UNLV, where the coaches did not just guide, but they held Olympic heritage. Krishna describes her head coach and former Olympic gold medallist in 100m, Carmelita Jeter, as someone who preaches independence. 'Their backing has helped me so much, and has made me a better person,' she said. It has helped in the way Krishna has performed so far in 2025. Earlier, she broke the national record for indoor shot put with a throw of 16.03m at the Mountain West Indoor track and field championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is keen on continuing her purple patch. 'After the outdoor meet in Eugene, I will be working to get myself a spot in both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games next year,' she added. Krishna has expressed her desire to represent India soon after she meets her academic commitments. 'That is the goal,' she added.

India's first-ever professional basketball league announced
India's first-ever professional basketball league announced

Hindustan Times

time2 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

India's first-ever professional basketball league announced

India's first-ever professional basketball league has been launched. The competition will feature a structured competitive league in 5x5 and 3x3 formats for both men and women, establishing a comprehensive professional ecosystem that will allow athletes across the country to pursue basketball as a viable career. This league, launched on Friday, is a collaboration between the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and ACG Sports Private Limited. Designed to redefine how basketball is played, experienced, and supported in India, it aims to shift basketball from a niche discipline into a mainstream pursuit. Jeremy Loeliger, Former CEO and Commissioner of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) has been appointed Director of ACG Sports to guide the league's global strategy and operations. In his new role, Loeliger will lead the development of the league's blueprint, bringing international standards of governance, competition, and commercial innovation to the Indian shores, as per a press release from BFI and ACG. "Basketball represents more than just a sport - it is a vehicle for building character, leadership, and opportunity," said Karan Singh, Managing Director of ACG. He further added, "Our vision for this professional basketball league is to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem where every child with passion and talent can see a viable future in basketball in India. We are grateful for the partnership with BFI in making this dream a reality. While this is a commendable first step, we know that building a thriving basketball ecosystem will require sustained effort and collective support to reach its full potential." As part of its long-term strategy, ACG will launch India's first fully residential high-performance centre within the year. The academy will feature world-class facilities, attract top coaching talent from the U.S. and Australia, and offer comprehensive training programmes for players, coaches, and referees. Nutrition, mental wellness, and academic balance will be integral to the curriculum - ensuring the holistic development of future stars. Aadhav Arjuna, President of the Basketball Federation of India, stated: "This partnership with ACG is unlike anything we've seen before. It is driven by vision, structured for long-term impact, and rooted in a clear understanding of what Indian basketball truly needs. We're building not just visibility, but real momentum and global credibility. Our vision is to win medals at the Asian Games and Olympics" Kulvinder Singh Gill, Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of India, stated: "This league will unlock new opportunities for young Indian talent to grow, compete professionally, and gain invaluable exposure alongside international players and coaches." The complete league framework, including team structures, competition formats, player eligibility, and governance models, is currently in development with input from global basketball experts and key industry stakeholders. Detailed announcements on participation guidelines, venue requirements, and operational protocols will follow in a phased rollout. In the coming months, the newly formed League Council will begin overseeing standards and operations, while nationwide scouting initiatives, customised athlete development tracks, and dynamic fan engagement programs will begin laying the foundation for a vibrant, inclusive, and commercially sustainable basketball culture in India.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store