The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026. As preparations enter their final stage, the Games are receiving attention not only for the sporting competition but also for the financial decisions being made by the host authorities.
One of the major issues surrounding the event is the increase in projected costs. When Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City initially decided to pursue the Games, estimates were considerably lower. More recent reports have indicated that total expenditure could reach the upper range of 300 billion yen, largely because of increases in labour and material costs. The figure has also been discussed in connection with preparations for the Asian Para Games, making it important to distinguish between the cost of the Asian Games alone and broader event-related expenditure.
The increase has inevitably raised questions about financial management. However, the Aichi-Nagoya approach also contains an important element that could be studied by countries such as India. Instead of pursuing every traditional feature associated with a major multi-sport event, organisers have attempted to reduce infrastructure costs and make greater use of existing facilities and temporary arrangements.
One of the clearest examples is accommodation for athletes and officials. Aichi-Nagoya does not have a conventional purpose-built athletes’ village. Organisers have instead planned accommodation through hotels, temporary wooden or container-style facilities and the Costa Serena cruise ship. This approach was adopted partly to avoid the substantial cost of constructing a large permanent athletes’ village.
The accommodation strategy has also demonstrated the challenges involved in trying to reduce costs while meeting the requirements of a major international sporting event. Organisers initially planned around approximately 15,000 participants, but registrations increased to more than 17,000 athletes and officials. The rise created additional pressure on accommodation and logistics. Organisers and the Olympic Council of Asia subsequently confirmed that accommodation arrangements had been secured, while further registrations were restricted except in exceptional circumstances.
This experience provides an important lesson for India as the country considers its long-term ambitions in international sports hosting. India has expressed aspirations to host major global sporting events and has invested heavily in sports infrastructure. The central question should not simply be how large an event can be hosted, but how efficiently it can be delivered and what remains after the competition ends.
Large permanent venues can provide significant benefits when they have a strong post-event purpose. They can become training centres, competition venues, community facilities or commercial assets. However, infrastructure that is built primarily for a short event and remains underused afterward can create substantial maintenance costs for governments and taxpayers.
The Aichi-Nagoya experience demonstrates why host cities need to consider the complete life cycle of an event. Planning should begin with a clear assessment of existing infrastructure, accommodation capacity, transport networks and public facilities. New construction should be undertaken only where there is a demonstrable long-term requirement.
Financial transparency is another important lesson. Major sporting events involve public money, sponsorship revenue, venue expenditure, transport arrangements, accommodation and security costs. Publishing realistic budgets at an early stage and regularly updating them can help governments, sporting bodies and the public understand how costs are changing.
The increase in Aichi-Nagoya's projected expenditure also highlights the importance of contingency planning. International sporting events are exposed to inflation, labour shortages, construction delays, changes in participation levels and logistical complications. A budget that does not account for these factors can become unrealistic before the event begins.
India can also learn from the decision to make use of existing facilities wherever possible. The country's major cities already have stadiums, hotels, transport networks and other infrastructure that could potentially support international events. Rather than concentrating expenditure on new construction, a combination of existing facilities and carefully targeted upgrades could reduce costs.
At the same time, cost cutting should not compromise athlete welfare. Accommodation, transportation, medical services, nutrition, training facilities and competition venues must meet appropriate international standards. The objective should be efficient spending rather than simply reducing expenditure.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games therefore offer a more complicated lesson than simply being described as either a financial success or a failure. The reported increase in costs is a legitimate issue for scrutiny, but the organisers' decision to avoid a conventional athletes’ village and use alternative accommodation also demonstrates an effort to adapt the event model to financial realities.
For India, the broader lesson is that hosting a major sporting event should be approached as a long-term public investment rather than a short-term prestige project. Every new venue should have a clear post-event use. Every major expenditure should have transparent justification. Existing infrastructure should be used wherever practical, while athlete welfare and operational standards should remain protected.
As India continues to strengthen its sporting ecosystem and pursue larger international hosting opportunities, the Aichi-Nagoya experience can provide a useful case study. The most successful sporting event may not necessarily be the one that spends the most money. It may be the one that delivers a high-quality competition while leaving behind useful infrastructure, manageable costs and lasting benefits for athletes and the public.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will ultimately be judged by sporting performance, organisation and public impact. But their financial and infrastructure choices could also become an important reference point for future Asian and international sporting events.