P.T. Usha Questions Asian Games Cruise Ship Model

By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Aichi-Nagoya
Sep 23, 2026
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Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha has raised concerns over the accommodation arrangements at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, saying the absence of a traditional Athletes’ Village could create logistical challenges for participating teams.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have adopted an accommodation model that differs significantly from the conventional arrangement used at major international sporting events. Instead of housing athletes together in a centralised Athletes’ Village, competitors are staying at multiple locations, with cruise ships being used as a major accommodation facility.

Usha, who was part of the Games Coordination Committee, said the arrangement was not widely supported during the discussions surrounding the Games.

P.T. Usha Supports Traditional Athletes’ Village System

According to Usha, representatives from several countries had raised objections to the alternative accommodation model. She said she also expressed her opposition and backed the traditional village-based system.

“Most countries protested. I did too. The village system is always good,” Usha said.

Usha has witnessed Athletes’ Villages at several major sporting events since 1982. Based on that experience, she said the arrangement being used in Japan is substantially different from the traditional model.

She stressed that an Athletes’ Village is not simply a residential facility for competitors. It also creates an important social environment where athletes from different countries can meet, interact and develop friendships.

“Everyone can come to one place, meet each other and mingle. That’s what makes the Village special,” she said.

Scattered Accommodation Could Increase Logistical Pressure

Usha acknowledged that athletes have been provided with adequate accommodation under the current system. However, she pointed to the absence of a single centralised village as a potential challenge for transportation, coordination and movement during the Games.

With athletes staying across different locations, managing daily travel between accommodation facilities and competition venues can become more complicated.

The issue becomes more significant because sporting events at the Aichi-Nagoya Games are being conducted across multiple locations.

Asian Games Venues Spread Across Different Locations

Usha also compared the current Games with previous editions of the Asian Games, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, where she said venues were generally located closer to one another.

“In our time, there weren’t many facilities, but the venues were very close. It was easy to get from one venue to another,” she said.

She explained that the geographical spread of venues in Japan could make it difficult for athletes, officials and spectators to attend more than one event in a day.

“Here, if I want to go from shooting to cricket, I have to take another route. So, if I want to watch multiple games, I can only go to one venue,” Usha said.

Aichi-Nagoya Model May Help Regional Sports Infrastructure

At the same time, Usha acknowledged a potential benefit of holding competitions at different locations.

According to her, conducting events across a wider area can contribute to the development and utilisation of sports infrastructure in different parts of the host region.

However, the wider distribution of venues also means that participants and visitors may have to travel longer distances, creating additional transportation and coordination requirements.

Usha Does Not Expect Athletes’ Village Culture to Disappear

Despite the alternative model introduced at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Usha does not believe that the traditional Athletes’ Village system is likely to disappear from major sporting events.

She pointed to the discussions within the Games Coordination Committee, saying the proposal did not receive widespread support among its members.

“I don’t think the village culture will change, because when we were in the committee, no one liked this idea,” Usha said.

The debate over accommodation at Aichi-Nagoya highlights a broader question surrounding the organisation of large multi-sport events: whether centralised athlete villages remain the most practical model, or whether more flexible accommodation arrangements can provide logistical and infrastructure advantages for host regions.

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