It seems, despite Indonesia's best effort to host the biggest regional event in the world, there are things that don't meet the expectations of the participants.
One of the most commented topics are the facilities of the Athlete's Village.
"I feel it's okay, just a little bit dirty. Yeah, a little bit dirty," said Ratchanok Intanon as the 23 year old Thailand badminton player as she got ready for her event on Thursday (23/8).
She also commented on the size of the room, which feels too small, but she understood that it's an Athlete's Village that housed more than ten thousands of people. The meal is also "not as delicious, but okay," she remarked, as reported by detikSport, one of the national online medias.
Similar complaints have been made by Indian athletes as cited by Hindustan Times.
“The rooms everywhere are basic but talking about this place, I don’t think I have stayed in a Games Village which has smaller rooms than here. There is no place to even keep a suitcase. There is hardly space to take a shower in the bathroom,” said a member of the Indian shooting team. “Nobody is asking for a five-star facility but there should be some space to keep your belongings,” the athlete added.
Another athlete said the food quality was good at the start of the Games but has deteriorated since then.
Also read: No-Alcohol Causes Officials to Leave the Athlete’s Village Just for a Drink
Previously, The Korean Times reported on complaints coming from South Korea Basketball coach on the size of the rooms that was too small for their tall athletes, also the cleanliness, the lack of television and refrigerator in the room, and cockroaches in the room.
The last two statements was quickly denied by the Asian Games Committee INASGOC Secretary General, Eris Heriyanto, who said televisions are provided in the common rooms, and it's impossible that there are cockroaches, since the Athlete's Villages are new buildings.
Lindswell Kwok, Indonesian gold-medal Wushu winner, also said that there's no cockroaches, but instead she found many mosquitos inside her room.
"(To prevent mosquitos coming into the room) Don't open the door," she said.
Nothing in this world is perfect, and this applies to organizing large scale events such as 2018 Asian Games. Although, surely the organizing committee will strive for better cleanliness at the villages.
Source: detikSports, Hindustan Times, Tempo