The cruise ship Costa Serena, with a capacity for 4,000 athletes and officials, has arrived in Nagoya, the venue for the Asian Games. This ship, which is nearly 300 meters long and weighs over 100,000 tons, is designed with 1,500 cabins for the accommodation of athletes. The Asian Games are taking place from September 23 to October 4, and more than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to participate in this event.
Increase in Complaints About Accommodation Conditions
With the arrival of the cruise ship, complaints about accommodation conditions at other locations have significantly increased. South Korean officials criticized the state of the container rooms, calling them "the worst conditions." Additionally, an official from the Korean Olympic Committee stated that these concerns have been raised by all teams. Hideaki Omura, head of the local organizing committee, believes that the use of the cruise ship could serve as a model for hosting financially sustainable sporting events.
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Costs and Challenges
The cost of renting this cruise ship has been reported to be around 4.5 billion yen (approximately 28 million dollars). This ship is a sister ship to the Costa Concordia, which sank in Italy in 2012. Furthermore, relevant officials hope that complaints about accommodation conditions on the ship will be fewer, especially considering the occurrence of seasonal storms in Japan.
Previously, due to heavy rainfall in Nagoya, hundreds of athletes were evacuated from their accommodation. Some athletes faced issues such as small beds and unsatisfactory sanitary conditions. Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korean Basketball Federation, criticized the poor state of the accommodation rooms and urged the media to pay attention to this issue. He pointed out problems such as leaking sinks and damp floors in the rooms.
Overall, despite the existing challenges, organizers hope that the cruise ship will serve as a suitable option for athletes' accommodation and help improve their experience at this international event. The Costa Serena ship has been introduced as a new home for athletes and guests from across Asia, and it is hoped that it will provide them with a comfortable and safe stay.
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