‘Japan set to trim budget by more than $2b’
Olympic body chief praises host of 2020 Games for cost-cutting steps.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on July 17 that a proposed futuristic design for a stadium by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid had been scrapped because of the $2 billion cost. PHOTO: AFP
KUALA LUMPUR:
Japan’s ditching of a showpiece stadium will trim its Olympic budget by more than $2 billion when combined with other savings, said International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach on Wednesday.
The IOC will monitor the development of a new stadium from the very start to make sure it remains “state of the art” for spectators and athletes, Bach told a press conference after an IOC executive meeting at which Tokyo organisers explained the changed plans.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on July 17 that a proposed futuristic design for a stadium by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid had been scrapped because of the $2 billion cost.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for the Japanese government, but we respect and can understand that in such times you would not like to build the most expensive stadium in the world,” the IOC chief told a press conference.
He said the Tokyo organisers had made $1.7 billion in savings to the Games’ budget in the seven months since the IOC passed measures to cut the cost of staging the Olympics.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2015.
Japan’s ditching of a showpiece stadium will trim its Olympic budget by more than $2 billion when combined with other savings, said International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach on Wednesday.
The IOC will monitor the development of a new stadium from the very start to make sure it remains “state of the art” for spectators and athletes, Bach told a press conference after an IOC executive meeting at which Tokyo organisers explained the changed plans.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on July 17 that a proposed futuristic design for a stadium by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid had been scrapped because of the $2 billion cost.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for the Japanese government, but we respect and can understand that in such times you would not like to build the most expensive stadium in the world,” the IOC chief told a press conference.
He said the Tokyo organisers had made $1.7 billion in savings to the Games’ budget in the seven months since the IOC passed measures to cut the cost of staging the Olympics.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2015.