What Happened to Container Houses

The container houses at the Nagoya Asian Games have sparked dissatisfaction from multiple national delegations due to issues such as cramped spaces, shabby facilities, and safety hazards.

Prominent Space and Facility Issues

• Insufficient Bed Length: The single beds in the container houses are only 195 centimeters long. For basketball and volleyball players over two meters tall, their feet will hang in the air when lying down, severely affecting the quality of rest.
• Cramped Living Spaces: The aisles in the rooms are extremely narrow, allowing only sideways movement. In double-bed rooms, there is only a walkway between the two beds that can accommodate one person standing, and there is not enough space to squat down and open a suitcase. The height of container houses is limited; the internal height of a standard container is generally around two meters and forty centimeters. After installing ceilings and floors, the net height may be only about two meters and ten centimeters. A volleyball player who is one meter and ninety centimeters tall can touch the ceiling with their raised hand when standing inside.
• Inadequate Bathroom Facilities: Some container houses have three people sharing one toilet and shower room, which cannot meet the basic living needs of the athletes.

Safety Hazards

• Fire Safety Risks: Container houses are mainly made of metal materials. If flammable materials such as polystyrene and polyurethane foam are used as core materials in the construction, once a fire breaks out, it will spread rapidly and be difficult to extinguish, making it difficult for trapped people to escape.
• Insufficient Response to Extreme Weather: When Nagoya experienced extreme heavy rainfall, hundreds of athletes were once required to evacuate their accommodation sites, and some competition venues also experienced water leakage, indicating that the drainage and waterproofing capabilities of the container houses are inadequate.

Dissatisfaction from Multiple National Delegations

• South Korean Delegation: South Korean sports officials described the accommodation conditions as 'the worst in history.' Zheng Zaiyong, the vice president of the South Korean Basketball Association, expressed 'deep dissatisfaction' with the container-style temporary huts where the men's basketball team was staying. Player Byun Jun-hyung posted a video on social media showing a leaking sink and a wet floor in the room.
• Other Delegations: Not only South Korea, but delegations from all participating countries are experiencing a severe shortage of rooms. India has even built similar container-style dormitories in the country to help athletes adapt in advance.