June 30, 2015
Culture and Sports Minister Shimomura Hakubun on June 29 announced that the total cost of constructing a new national stadium to be used as the main venue in the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics is estimated at 252 billion yen, up about 90 billion yen from the initial estimate.
Compared to the “Bird’s Nest” stadium built in Beijing (40 billion yen) and the Olympic Stadium in London (60 billion yen), the construction cost for the main arena for the Tokyo Summer Games is extremely high due to the stadium’s two colossal “keel arches” which support its retractable roof.
The ministry is asking the Tokyo Metropolitan government to put up 50 billion yen as part of the public works project, but Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi is holding off on giving a response. At a press briefing held in the metropolitan government office on the same day, the governor said he has not received an explanation from the national government as to why the total cost has ballooned so much from the initial estimate.
Regarding the shortfall in funds, Endo Toshiaki, State Minister in charge of the 2020 Olympics, hinted at shifting some portion of the financial burden onto the public. However, this is contrary to the IOC’s Olympic “Agenda 2020” which calls for more cost-reduction measures to achieve less costly Olympics.
Architect Maki Fumihiko, who presented an alternative design to the national government, commented, “The ministry has chosen the design featuring the two arches above the playing field which costs an enormous amount of money. This will not agreeable to the public.”
Past related articles:
> JCP calls for revision of costly, time-consuming design for new Olympic stadium [June 4, 2015]
> National stadium construction may not be finished by 2020 Tokyo Olympics [May 19 & 20, 2015]
> Tokyo Olympics might deprive local residents of opportunity to engage in sports [April 9, 2015]
> Construction for a 2020 Olympics stadium will cut down 1,708 trees [February 24, 2015]
Compared to the “Bird’s Nest” stadium built in Beijing (40 billion yen) and the Olympic Stadium in London (60 billion yen), the construction cost for the main arena for the Tokyo Summer Games is extremely high due to the stadium’s two colossal “keel arches” which support its retractable roof.
The ministry is asking the Tokyo Metropolitan government to put up 50 billion yen as part of the public works project, but Tokyo Governor Masuzoe Yoichi is holding off on giving a response. At a press briefing held in the metropolitan government office on the same day, the governor said he has not received an explanation from the national government as to why the total cost has ballooned so much from the initial estimate.
Regarding the shortfall in funds, Endo Toshiaki, State Minister in charge of the 2020 Olympics, hinted at shifting some portion of the financial burden onto the public. However, this is contrary to the IOC’s Olympic “Agenda 2020” which calls for more cost-reduction measures to achieve less costly Olympics.
Architect Maki Fumihiko, who presented an alternative design to the national government, commented, “The ministry has chosen the design featuring the two arches above the playing field which costs an enormous amount of money. This will not agreeable to the public.”
Past related articles:
> JCP calls for revision of costly, time-consuming design for new Olympic stadium [June 4, 2015]
> National stadium construction may not be finished by 2020 Tokyo Olympics [May 19 & 20, 2015]
> Tokyo Olympics might deprive local residents of opportunity to engage in sports [April 9, 2015]
> Construction for a 2020 Olympics stadium will cut down 1,708 trees [February 24, 2015]
