Sawt Falasteen - IOC president impressed by 'beautiful' Asian Games wooden huts

Asia's biggest sporting spectacle, which opened on Saturday in the Japanese city of Nagoya, has split with past Games by having no traditional athletes' village.

To save costs, the more than 17,000 Asian Games participants will stay in temporary huts, hotels and a cruise ship.

Some countries have criticised the wooden cabins as too small, with beds that are too short.

But after touring the lodgings, International Olympic Committee president Coventry said she could not understand the negativity.

"We had similar cabins in Milan-Cortina (Winter Games this year) and the athletes were very happy. And the cabins here are really nice," said the Zimbabwean former Olympic champion swimmer.

"They're a little tighter. So, you know, if you want something negative, it's a little smaller.

"But I don't think it's a negative thing. I love the village."

About 2,000 participants are staying in the lodgings by the water in Nagoya.

Coventry said: "The cabins are quiet, they're very cool. The air conditioning is working well.

"The flooring and the walls are beautiful. It's better than some of the villages I've stayed in.

"So I think to be very fair to Japan and to the organising committee, I was really impressed.

"I had only been reading everything that had been said. And I was expecting something completely different to when I walked in."

Asked by AFP if she would happily see the temporary cabins and also a cruise ship serve as accommodation at the Olympics, she said she had not been to the vessel.

But she pointed to the accommodation at Milan-Cortina, and said those "very closely" resembled the ones in Nagoya.

"It's not a new concept," she added.

"And it is a concept that I think, for me, when we talk about an athlete experience, being an athlete... as soon as I go in, I'm not necessarily concerned about the look."

H.Darwish--SF-PST