Floating Olympic Village: Costa Serena hosts Asian Games 2026

In a world of limited resources and grand ambitions, organizers of major events seek unconventional solutions. Using a cruise ship as an Olympic Village is not just cost-saving but a symbol of flexibility and adaptability.

The Italian cruise liner Costa Serena arrived on Tuesday at the Kinjo Pier in Nagoya, Japan, to be temporarily used as a floating Olympic Village for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya. There will be no separate Olympic Village at the Asian Games. This unique arrangement means that some athletes and officials will be accommodated aboard the cruise ship. Organizers held a grand opening ceremony for the new floating residence.

Costa Serena is 290 meters long and 35 meters wide, with 1,500 cabins that can accommodate up to 4,000 athletes and officials on 14 decks. There are also restaurants and a gym. Organizers are using the ship, local hotels and converted containers to accommodate more than 11,000 athletes, exceeding the number of participants at the Paris Olympics (10,700). This is also the first time a cruise ship has been used as an Olympic Village at the Asian Games, aimed at addressing accommodation shortages and budget constraints.

The ship will host delegations competing near the port of Nagoya in sports such as canoeing, judo and wushu. These include the Chinese canoeing team. Costa Serena will be docked from September 15 to October 6. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, and the 16-day Asian Games will end on October 4. In case of extreme weather such as a typhoon, the ship will leave the port and shelter elsewhere.

As reported by CCTV+, the use of a cruise ship as a floating Olympic Village has become a unique solution that allows hosting a record number of participants while reducing the burden on urban infrastructure.