Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for a full review of a controversial plan to build a new national stadium to serve as the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The plan was last month revealed to cost 252 billion yen, or more than 2 billion dollars. That's about 700 million dollars more than estimated in May last year.
The huge cost has drawn extensive criticism from the public, opposition parties and even members of the governing coalition.
Abe discussed the matter on Friday with former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, who heads the games' organizing committee.
Abe later told reporters that he decided to review the plan from square one. He called the games a people's festival that must be approved by all.
Abe said key problems include the issue of procedures, international commitments, and whether construction can be done in time. He said he made up his mind after gaining assurances that the venue can be built before the games.
Abe conceded that the facility will not be ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as initially planned, but said the government will continue to fully support the event.
He said the new stadium must offer a moving experience to people worldwide, but that the government plans to keep costs down as much as possible and come up with the most realistic plan.
Abe said he told sports minister Hakubun Shimomura and the minister in charge of the games, Toshiaki Endo, to start working on a new plan immediately.
Source: NHK World
The plan was last month revealed to cost 252 billion yen, or more than 2 billion dollars. That's about 700 million dollars more than estimated in May last year.
The huge cost has drawn extensive criticism from the public, opposition parties and even members of the governing coalition.
Abe discussed the matter on Friday with former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, who heads the games' organizing committee.
Abe later told reporters that he decided to review the plan from square one. He called the games a people's festival that must be approved by all.
Abe said key problems include the issue of procedures, international commitments, and whether construction can be done in time. He said he made up his mind after gaining assurances that the venue can be built before the games.
Abe conceded that the facility will not be ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as initially planned, but said the government will continue to fully support the event.
He said the new stadium must offer a moving experience to people worldwide, but that the government plans to keep costs down as much as possible and come up with the most realistic plan.
Abe said he told sports minister Hakubun Shimomura and the minister in charge of the games, Toshiaki Endo, to start working on a new plan immediately.
Source: NHK World
