Architect Zaha Hadid’s £2bn stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics branded ‘too expensive’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Japan is scaling down the planned main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, following an uproar from some prominent figures who think it’s too big and expensive.
Hakubun Shimomura, the minister for sports, told parliament the stadium designed by award-winning British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid would cost 300 billion yen (£1.9bn) – “too massive a budget.”
The 80,000-seat, futuristic-looking stadium had been billed as costing 130 billion yen (£820m) before the updated estimate was given. Mr Shimomura’s remarks signal a policy change. He did not give specifics on how construction will be trimmed, but he stressed that the design concept will be kept. Construction will begin next year.
AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments