Sports Ministry reaches out to Indian diaspora to help deal with lodging crisis at Asiad

Nagoya: Alarmed by the accommodation crisis at the Asian Games, the Sports Ministry has reached out to the Indian diaspora here to "help with the lodging" of athletes in case the shortage of rooms is not resolved during the continental showpiece beginning on Saturday.

Several athletes, including those from India, have complained about delay in handing of their accommodation, which has been spread across container-style huts, a docked cruise ship and some hotels in the absence of a designated athletes' village to save cost.

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India's Chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav on Friday revealed that about 35 Indian athletes had to be shifted to hotels after not getting their designated accommodation from the organisers.

With more athletes expected to land here as per their competition schedule, the situation could get aggravated. Already, the badminton players had to be shifted to a hotel after delay in getting accommodation and would be lodged there for the time being.

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"The sports ministry has reached out to the Indian diaspora to be on standby to help it with the accommodation of its athletes in case there is shortage of rooms for them during the course of the Asian Games," a travelling Ministry official said here.

A senior sports ministry official told PTI on condition of anonymity that the Indian embassy had played a big role in the outreach to around 2000 families in Nagoya and many of them have come forward to help in the event of a shortage of accommodation.

"The first priority would be to accommodate the athletes in good hotels but if there is still a requirement for more rooms there is the Indian diaspora to fall back on," said the official.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has also reached the port city and was present briefly at the flag hoisting ceremony on Friday, which was delayed for over an hour because of "miscommunication" between the Olympic Council of Asia and the local organising committee.

The Ministry is confident that the situation can be handled by taking the diaspora's support.

"The diaspora has been very cooperative and is helping in every way possible, including assisting athletes at the airport and guiding them to the welcome centre.

"Besides, two members of the Chef de Mission's staff will always be available to receive the athletes at the airport. The athletes should see officials in Indian jerseys at the airport to feel at ease," the official said.

"The ministry cannot watch the same fate befall Indian athletes as athletes from other countries, who are being made to wait for as long as nine to 10 hours for accommodation. This is why it is taking all these steps -- to ensure that Indian athletes do not have to suffer like the others," he added.

The lodging crisis that has gripped the Games has drawn sharp criticism from other participants as well with South Korea being among the most vocal in slamming the arrangements.

The Olympic Council of Asia, however, has rejected the criticism and stated that attempts are being made to exploit the situation on social media and politicise the event in the process.

Close to 11,000 athletes would be competing in 43 sports till October 4, making the Asiad a bigger event than even the Olympics in terms of participation and the size of the Games roster.

The official also said that the ministry is keeping a close watch on the crisis in hockey back home and has asked Hockey India and the Hockey India League (HIL) franchises to resolve their issues so that the league is not jeopardised and the ministry does not have to step in.