For the first time in Japan, a cruise ship has been repurposed as the athletes’ village for a major international sports event. The Costa Serena has been chosen as the accommodation for the athletes and officials who will be visiting Nagoya for the Asian Games, moving away from traditional hotels and accommodations.
The Costa Serena, operated by the Italian company Costa Cruises, arrived at Kinjo Pier in Nagoya on September 15, 2026, a few days before the start of the events, which will take place until October 4. The ship is expected to house up to 5,000 athletes and officials from Asia.
A Floating Athletes’ Village
Costa Serena is a large ship measuring around 290.2 meters long, with a gross tonnage of around 114,000 tons and about 1,500 cabins.
The ship will be used temporarily as a floating accommodation facility rather than a ship for cruising the ocean. Athletes and officials will be able to stay at the ship while on their way to the host city.
The idea of using cruise liners as places of stay during international sports events is not an absolutely new one. Yet in Nagoya, this decision marks a new trend for Japan.
Hideaki Omura, the head of the organizing committee, said this is the first time a cruise ship is being made an accommodation for an international sporting event in Japan.
New Solutions for Large-Scale Accommodation as an Advantage
Reportedly, the organizers had agreed to rent the ship for around 4.5 billion yen. This solution allows getting thousands of rooms in a single place which may simplify the logistics of accommodating a vast number of athletes, coaches, and officials.
Besides, a cruise ship creates a unique atmosphere of accommodation that differs from that of a usual athletes’ village as, instead of being located in many buildings and hotels, the guests stay in one big vessel with cabins and facilities.
Apart from that, this one-of-a-kind arrangement provides the 2026 Asian Games with a special attribute that makes it different from other, previous Games that have taken place in Japan.
Costa Serena’s Connection to Costa Concordia
An important element of part of maritime history is the fact that Costa Serena is actually a sister ship of Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that sank off the coast of Tuscany in 2012. This tragic event led to the loss of lives of 32 individuals.
Due to this event involving Costa Serena, it is undoubtedly one of the best-known vessels, although today Costa Serena is functioning as a cruise ship operated in the Costa Cruise company.
An Athlete’s Temporary Residence
The captain expressed confidence that all those who were staying in the ship would be comfortable, safe and unforgettable. He described the vessel as more than just a destination but as a temporary abode for the athletes and visitors from various parts of Asia, thus promoting the ideas of friendship, brotherhood and unity.
With thousands of people being expected on board during the period of the events, Costa Serena will actually turn into a floating community during the Games.
The project is a good example of how important sport events can employ non-standard solutions to the problem of accommodation. For Japan this will also be the first time in history when a cruise ship is used as an athletes’ village for the international sporting event.
