Inside the Costa Serena, the floating hotel of the Asian Games

Mongolian athletes tuck into a buffet featuring mozzarella prepared by an expert, while an aroma steam bath waits for its next visitor and competitors move across the carpeted floors.

This is life aboard the Costa Serena, the cruise ship with a capacity of nearly 4,000 people that is serving as a floating hotel for participants at the Asian Games in Japan.

The continent’s premier sporting event has faced criticism over accommodation and transport, with teams reporting a general shortage of rooms and buses failing to arrive on time or, in some cases, not arriving at all.


Breaking with previous editions, organisers of the Aichi-Nagoya Games decided against building a traditional athletes’ village in a bid to cut costs. More than 17,000 athletes and officials, a number higher than at the Olympics, are instead staying across hotels, temporary wooden units and the Italian-flagged Costa Serena.

Cruise ships have previously been used to accommodate athletes at sporting events, but never on this scale. Games organisers believe the model could serve as a template for future multi-sport competitions.

Some teams have criticised the shipping container-style accommodation, saying the rooms are cramped and the beds too short. The Costa Serena, however, appears to have avoided those complaints. The nearly 300-metre (980-foot) vessel is docked at Nagoya’s port.

AFP on Friday became the first media outlet to enter the ship during the Games, passing down a steep ramp and through another layer of security.

"It's perfectly fine. The food is plentiful. For anyone that's been on a cruise ship, it's as advertised on the tin," said Tom Stevens, a Canadian rowing coach with the Lebanon team.

"In my experience, if you don't want to build huge complexes, this is the way to go."

A typhoon hit eastern Japan this week, with Tokyo affected by the storm, while Nagoya also experienced noticeably stronger winds.

Asked whether he felt anything on board, Stevens said: "Not a thing."

Stevens, who has spent a week on the ship, said his stay had not been without problems, but attributed those to inconsistent transport and long travelling times on land.

Organisers have acknowledged that there were long boarding times earlier in the Games, blaming teams for not completing the required paperwork properly.

Next stop: the world

There were no such delays when AFP reporters visited the ship, which has effectively been hired by the Games.

The vessel differs slightly from its usual setup for holidaymakers. The luxury watch shop is closed and there is no casino.

New exercise machines were brought aboard so athletes could use an additional gym, where a Qatari competitor was seen lifting weights.

A lounge features soft chairs in different colours shaped like hearts, alongside light fittings designed to resemble dangling chillies.

The interior combines elements of Greek mythology, traditional Japanese influences and hints of other cultures, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the crew and athletes.

The ship has 1,500 cabins, with some designed for single occupancy and others equipped with twin beds.

In another gym, Sajjad Anoushiravani, a senior official with Iran’s weightlifting team, was stretching on a mat.

"Fantastic, really, everything is available, modern, perfect staff and very clean," he said of his experience.

Once the Games are over, the Costa Serena will return to its regular duties at sea, eventually reaching Buenos Aires in time for Christmas.

Asked whether Anoushiravani would want to remain aboard for the voyage, he replied: "100 percent."

(With AFP inputs)