(ATR) Tokyo’s top elected official blames the national government over costs for the 2020 Olympic stadium.
Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe says both the sports ministry and Japan Sports Council have done a "sloppy job" of preparing construction for the new National Stadium.
To be built on the site of the now-demolished stadium from the 1964 Olympics, the new arena is to be ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Budgeted once at $1 billion, the projected costs have risen to near double that figure. Plans are being changed to eliminate a retractable roof. And the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is now being asked to shoulder $400 million of the stadium bill.
At his regular press conference on Tuesday, Masuzoe expressed his displeasure with the way the government has handled the stadium.
"We don’t believe and should not rely on the management ability of the Japanese Sports Ministry and Japan Sports Council about the costs and construction term for new National Stadium," said Masuzoe.
Masuzoe said he had made requests to the sports ministry about the specific amount of construction costs for new stadium. Instead theministry revealed a plan of topless stadium.
"If we have to pay, it will be the cost of the surrounding environment improvement, which would only be $5 million," Masuzoe said at the news conference.
Masuzoe criticized the attitude of companies building the new stadium.
"These companies have a social responsibility, so that they have to disclose and explain to the people about the costs and terms of new stadium."
"The Japanese Sports Ministry and Japan Sports Council can’t resolve this issue," said Masuzoe in an angry tone as he closed the press conference.
John Coates, the chair of the IOC commission for Tokyo 2020, said he did not want to comment on the row between the city and national governments.
Construction of the new arena is supposed to start in October. The 80,000-seat stadium is designed by noted British architect Zaha Hadid.
Reported by Hironori Hashimoto in Tokyo, editing by Ed Hula
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore
Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing
Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power
Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022
Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
