'Everything here is made of cardboard': TeamSG triathlete reveals cardboard beds, bike stands at Asian Games lodgings

Cardboard beds. Cardboard bicycle stands. For Team Singapore triathlete Luke Chua, that's part of life at the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Chua, 25, shared a video via Instagram on Thursday (Sept 17) showcasing his lodging in Japan. 

Speaking to AsiaOne, he said that the triathlon and sailing teams were allocated hotel rooms in Gamagori, since their competition venues are located further away from the main village.

He shares a room with fellow teammate Tey Yi Jun, who also appears in the video.

In the clip, which has garnered over 97,000 views, the pair reveal that their beds are supported by cardboard frames. Tey lifts the mattress and bedding to show the structure underneath before peeling back a section of the cardboard, revealing its frame.

The duo also show viewers their bicycle stands, which are likewise made of cardboard.

"So I guess everything here is made of cardboard," Chua jokes.

Cardboard beds 'pretty standard nowadays'

While cardboard furniture may seem unusual, Chua told AsiaOne that such arrangements are becoming increasingly common at major sporting events.

"I have never experienced this before but from what my friends who have been to Olympics tell me, it's pretty standard nowadays especially for major games as it's more environmentally-friendly and more cost-effective," he said.

However, Chua has no qualms about the accommodation provided, and said there is "more than enough room".

When asked if the cardboard beds might affect his sleep and race performance, Chua said: "I don't think it would affect that much, at least for me."

"After going through NS outfields, I think any sleeping condition is better," he quipped.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Luke Chua (@luke.chuaa)

The 2026 Asian Games will take place from Sept 19 to Oct 4, and Team SG will be fielding a total of 304 athletes across 27 sports.

During the Team Singapore Flag Presentation Ceremony at OCBC Square on Aug 29, chef de mission Goh Kee Nguan said that the contingent will be heading to the Games to showcase their best performances against Asia's top competitors and to "win as much as we can”.

The contingent will have to contend with an unusual Games environment, with competition venues and accommodation spread across Aichi-Nagoya and other parts of Japan.

Singapore National Olympic Council president Grace Fu also told the contingent to expect logistical, accommodation and food-related challenges, as well as possible disruption during Japan's typhoon season, and urged them to stay focused on their campaigns.

Some athletes and officials will stay on a cruise ship, while others will be housed in temporary modular accommodation.

Jung Jae-yong, vice-president of the Korea Basketball Association, told AFP that the accommodation at the Games was the "worst it has ever been", with athletes over two metres tall unable to even stretch their legs out on the beds.

Some athletes are being housed in wooden container huts, while others are staying on an Italian cruise ship which docked in Nagoya and others are in hotels.

"Whoever is the toughest, whoever is the most resilient, will prevail," said Fu.

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dana.leong@asiaone.com