By Sundeep Misra

It is an uneasy calm before the Asian Games 2026 begin. Concerns over missing rooms, delayed transport and food logistics have dominated the opening days. Hopefully, those issues will settle as attention turns to the athletes and the competition.

Before the semifinals, upsets and medal tallies take over, organisers usually resolve operational problems. But that does not excuse poor conditions.

For athletes, the Asian Games represent a crucial four-year window. Outside the Olympics and continental championships, the event offers a rare opportunity to make a mark and build a career.

The Pressure on Athletes

The mental pressure can be immense.

For young debutants, even a minor distraction can disrupt years of careful preparation. Experienced athletes may know how to adjust their routines, but the pressure remains relentless.

The world is also facing economic difficulties and weather challenges. As a result, host nations are increasingly cutting budgets to satisfy taxpayers.

Still, major sporting events rarely escape logistical controversy.

In 2014, Incheon’s stadiums emptied out amid high ticket prices and backlash over allegedly biased refereeing.

In 2018, athletes in Jakarta faced difficult journeys between the Village and venues. Severe traffic jams made those commutes particularly gruelling.

In the end, the athlete often carries the burden. They must produce their best performance even when problems around them create additional pressure.

Aichi-Nagoya Has Taken a Different Approach

Aichi-Nagoya has faced a slightly different version of the same problem.

There is no conventional Athletes’ Village here. Organisers have instead chosen hotels, temporary container-style accommodation and the Costa Serena cruise ship.

The cruise ship is housing thousands of athletes and officials.

The Olympic Council of Asia has defended the decision. It argues that a permanent village could become an expensive post-Games “white elephant.”

The reasoning is understandable. However, the execution has been less smooth.

The number of participants has also increased beyond the original planning figure.

Around 17,000 athletes and officials are now taking part in the Games. Earlier expectations put the number at about 15,000.

That increase has created room-allocation problems and long waits. In some cases, athletes have also had to share rooms intended for fewer people.

Airport Delays Add to the Problems

The airport experience has created another challenge.

Some arriving athletes and officials waited several hours for credentials and transport. Reports have put the longest waits at up to 14 hours.

At Aichi Sky Expo, shuttle arrangements struggled when the system could not immediately match athletes with their accommodation.

After a long international journey, such delays can add further fatigue before competition begins.

Indian Contingent Faces Logistical Issues

For India, several problems have been particularly visible.

The rowing contingent faced room-allocation difficulties aboard the cruise ship. Some Indian athletes also reportedly found themselves sharing rooms.

The shooting team faced a separate transport problem.

The journey to the range should have taken around 75 minutes, but it stretched beyond two hours after the team waited for transport. The delay affected a scheduled practice session.

There have also been accreditation and registration problems.

Indian pistol coach Samaresh Jung initially faced an accreditation problem. Members of the wushu contingent also found that their names were missing from the registration system.

Food and Accommodation Remain Concerns

Food has also become part of the conversation.

Some contingents have complained about quantities or difficulty adapting to the available options.

The compact nature of some accommodation has raised another question. Can temporary solutions designed for efficiency provide athletes with enough space during a three-week competition?

For athletes, these details matter.

Training, meals, hydration, recovery, sleep and travel all form part of competition preparation. Even a short journey can become difficult when athletes must organise their day around fixed transport schedules.

Not Every Problem Defines the Games

These problems do not mean Aichi-Nagoya will become a badly organised Games.

Nor does it mean every complaint will remain unresolved.

The organisers have acknowledged problems and said they are working to resolve them.

There are also explanations for some of the difficulties. The number of participants increased, new sports were added and the decision to avoid a permanent Athletes’ Village was deliberate.

But there is a larger point.

A Games is not only about how an accommodation system looks on paper. It is also about whether athletes can arrive, eat, sleep, train, travel and compete without unnecessary problems.

Athletes should not have to spend valuable mental energy wondering where their next meal is coming from, whether the bus will arrive or whether a room will be waiting after a long flight.

Now, the Athletes Take Centre Stage

That is the basic bargain of any major sporting event.

The organisers provide the stage.

The athletes provide the performance.

The logistical problems of the opening days are now part of the Games story. But as competition begins, the focus will move where it belongs: to the track, field, court, pool and arena.

The Asian Games 2026 are here.

And Indian athletes are ready to compete.