Japan will use the cruise ship Costa Serena to accommodate athletes competing in the 2026 Asian Games, which will open in Nagoya on September 19th. The arrangement will be the first time Japan has used a cruise ship as an athletes’ village for an international sporting event of this scale.
Organisers had originally planned to construct a dedicated athletes’ village, but the cost of the project led authorities to abandon the plan in favour of using the Italian-registered cruise ship. The 290-metre Costa Serena has ~1,500 cabins, along with open-air decks, restaurants, swimming pools, leisure areas and fitness facilities.
The vessel will be berthed at Nagoya Port and is expected to accommodate ~4,000 people during the Games. Authorities are preparing security and contingency measures for the ship and the surrounding port area. In the event of a typhoon or severe weather, Costa Serena could be moved offshore to avoid areas exposed to higher waves.
Masashi Hayakawa, who is responsible for accommodation arrangements within the Asian Games organising committee, said the ship would provide athletes with facilities comparable to those available at a hotel. Organisers plan to allocate different cabin types among participating countries to ensure consistent treatment. The ship has six cabin categories, while its interiors cannot be substantially modified because of the limited preparation period.
Japanese customs procedures, quarantine requirements and other regulations applicable to foreign vessels operating in the country will also apply to Costa Serena. Authorities said the relevant procedures would be reviewed and completed in advance to minimise operational problems during the event.
Hayakawa said organisers were developing procedures step by step because there was no previous Japanese precedent for accommodating athletes in this manner. The preparations are now entering their final phase, with temporary shops, general stores and other facilities being established near the quay. Traffic routes to the port are also being secured to facilitate the movement of athletes and other guests during embarkation and disembarkation.
Safety and security arrangements are being coordinated for both athletes and spectators as Nagoya and the port prepare for the opening of the Games.