By Enkhsaran Baasandorj (OCA Young Reporter from Mongolia)
Hangzhou, China, October 2, 2023: At the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, many participants can be found, particularly athletes. As a result, a substantial athletic village has been established alongside numerous prominent competition venues in Hangzhou. This athletes’ village boasts 11,000 beds accommodating athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions.
During the visit, I had the privilege of touring the Mongolian team's residence within the athletes’ village. The Mongolian team and their team leader warmly welcomed the Mongolian media team and me as I represented the Young Reporters of OCA team.
There was the opportunity to observe the activities of the Mongolian team, and it was striking how united they were. Athletes commonly visit therapists for meditation and massages. The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organizing Committee has provided 15 volunteers to support the team. These volunteers are crucial in coordinating transportation because the competition venues are spread out across the city.
New Mongolian athletes arriving at the Hangzhou 2022 athletes’ village were impressed by the warm reception and the impressive infrastructure. The village is secured and monitored, ensuring athletes’ safety and privacy while preventing outside disturbances. The variety of food options was also appreciated, catering to the diverse preferences of the athletes.
Galbadrakh Khishigsaikhan, a Mongolian long-distance runner participating in her second Asian Games, remarked that she had encountered athletes she had met at the World Championships, and her friends who had competed in various international events.
Similarly, Narandulam Munkhbayar, another Mongolian athlete participating in his third Asian Games, expressed his fondness for the scenic views from his room overlooking a beautiful lake. During his morning jogs, he enjoys interacting with athletes from other countries, some of whom they have previously met at international festivals. Munkhbayar believes that the well-trained athletes at the Asian Games may break medium and long-distance running Asian records.
Tamir Khangal, a Mongolian National League volleyball athlete, has spent several days in the athletes’ village. He appreciates meeting new people and making friends within the vast village. He commends the security measures and the multilingual greetings extended by volunteers. However, due to the size of the sporting event, it can take at least 40 minutes to travel from the athletes’ village to the competition venues by bus. Consequently, he emphasizes the importance of athletes planning their time efficiently to avoid fatigue. Khangal has explored many areas within the village and particularly enjoyed the commercial center, which features innovative robotics. For instance, there was a chance to play table tennis against a robot, which sets the athletes village apart from other international games.