adminTOKYO. — Japanese sports chiefs on Wednesday gave the green light to a new US$1,6 billion stadium for the 2020 Olympics, all but dashing the hopes of campaigners who say the building and its price tag are too big. The government-affiliated Japan Sport Council, which will run the 160 billion yen new National Stadium, decided to trim the height of the structure to 70 metres from the original 75 metres to appease concerns it would be a blight on the Tokyo skyline.
The basic design of the 80 000-seat stadium with a retractable roof, originally conceived by prize-winning Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and shaped like a bike helmet, was rubber-stamped by the council and a panel of advisers.
Drawn by a group of design houses, it will be made final on approval from the ministry in charge of sports administration.
The structure is set to be built on the site of the 56-year-old, 54 000-seat National Stadium, which will be dismantled over 15 months beginning in July. — AFP.
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