A Singaporean triathlete has offered a glimpse of the unusual accommodation arrangements for athletes competing in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, showing cardboard bed frames and bicycle stands at his assigned lodging in Japan.
Luke Chua, 25, posted a video on Instagram featuring his room in Gamagori, where Singapore’s triathlon and sailing teams are staying because their competition venues are located away from the main athletes’ accommodation area.
A Singaporean triathlete showed off his room at the 2026 Asian Games, where nearly everything, including the surprisingly sturdy bed, appears to be made of cardboard. pic.twitter.com/r726LM7BUz
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) September 18, 2026
Chua shared the room with fellow triathlete Tey Yi Jun. In the video, the two lifted their mattresses to show the cardboard structures supporting their beds. They also displayed bicycle stands made from the same material.
“So I guess everything here is made of cardboard,” Chua joked.
The 2026 Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, with Singapore sending 304 athletes across 27 sports.
Instead of building a traditional centralized athletes’ village, organizers are using different accommodation options across the Aichi-Nagoya region and other parts of Japan.
Some athletes are staying in hotels, while others have been assigned to temporary modular housing or the Costa Serena cruise ship docked in Nagoya.
The cruise ship is expected to accommodate thousands of athletes, coaches and officials during the Games. (Adrian Co)
