The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has issued an advisory to national sports federations, including those in India, requesting strict adherence to contingent limits for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This directive follows Japan’s indication that it can only accommodate up to 15,000 participants at the event, scheduled from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

India is set to send a total of 492 athletes to the Games, but the exact number of support staff has yet to be finalised. Deliberations are ongoing within the Indian authorities to determine the appropriate size of the support team.

The advisory has followed a series of requests from various member nations for late additions to their athlete contingents. However, due to logistical constraints, OCA has determined that no further additions will be permitted, only replacements for existing members.

Regulations on Support Staff Numbers

A source from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) explained that the composition of the support staff has yet to be completed, with some federations failing to designate sports science experts in their recommendations. The list has been returned to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and further evaluation will take additional time.

The SAI source emphasised that the cap on support staff is limited to 33 per cent of the athletes’ contingent. Given the current athlete count, India would be restricted to a maximum of 162 support team members unless a reconsideration of these limits occurs.

Despite suggestions from national federations for an expanded support team, the OCA has stated that accommodation constraints in Aichi-Nagoya make such additions unfeasible. The authorities are focused on ensuring that sufficient medical personnel are present to assist the athletes throughout the competition.

Accommodation Arrangements for Participants

The Governor of Aichi Prefecture, Hideaki Omura, publicly clarified the limitations regarding accommodation, stating that the logistical arrangements and budget for the Games were based on the 15,000-person capacity outlined in the hosting contract. He noted the difficulties in providing accommodation beyond this limit.

Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture and Japan’s fourth-largest city, will host events across 43 sporting disciplines, including cricket, aquatics, hockey, wrestling, and archery. India plans to participate in 35 disciplines, with athletics having the largest contingent of 73 athletes.

In a novel approach to the Games, the organisers have opted not to construct a traditional Athletes’ Village. Instead, lodging will be provided in container-style huts and on a cruise ship docked at Nagoya port. This ship is expected to house nearly 5,000 athletes, while an additional 2,400 will stay in the container huts, which are also intended to serve as disaster shelters post-Games.

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