Asian Games
Cardboard beds return at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after Tokyo Olympics
Cardboard beds have made another appearance at a major sporting event, this time at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
Singapore triathlete Luke Chua showcases the cardboard beds and bicycle stands provided at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games accommodation. (Photo credit: Asia One)
Cardboard beds have made another appearance at a major sporting event, this time at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
Singapore triathlete Luke Chua recently shared a reel showing the accommodation provided to Team Singapore, including beds supported by cardboard frames and bicycle stands made from the same material.
Chua said such arrangements are becoming increasingly common at major sporting events, citing their cost and environmental benefits.
The idea is not entirely new in Japan. Cardboard beds gained global attention during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where they were used as part of the Games’ accommodation setup. In 2022, Japanese company Earth Cardboard also put a simplified cardboard bed on sale commercially for around ¥5,940, approximately ₹3,000 at the time.
The product was designed as a low-cost, temporary bed using readily available cardboard components. It measured 183 cm by 99 cm, while its packaging could also be repurposed as a partition, helping reduce waste.
At Aichi-Nagoya, the cardboard furniture is part of a wider accommodation model that does away with a dedicated Athletes’ Village. Organisers are instead using hotels, temporary wooden structures and a cruise ship to house athletes and officials, with sustainability and cost control among the stated considerations.
The use of cardboard furniture highlights how sporting events are experimenting with temporary infrastructure that can be produced at relatively low cost and managed with sustainability in mind. What drew attention during the Tokyo Olympics has now appeared again at Aichi-Nagoya, albeit as part of a very different accommodation model.