Japan Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura promised on Tuesday that Tokyo's new National Stadium, the centerpiece of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, "will be completed on time and blamed a 'lack of clear responsibility' for the structure's raft of woes," according to Elaine Lies of REUTERS. The new National Stadium has been hit by "numerous problems, including skyrocketing costs and demolition delays that led to media speculation it might not be finished in time." Shimomura, who is also education
minister, said that a "lack of clearly delineated overall
responsibility may be partly to blame." The stadium is due to be used for
the Rugby World Cup in '19. Shimomura said, "For
example, there were reports that completion might be delayed in April.
If we'd gotten those reports earlier I believe we might have been able
to make a more flexible response." An official at the Japan Sports Council, which is in charge of the stadium, agreed that it will be completed in time. The official said, "We are making every effort to that end" (REUTERS, 6/9). In Tokyo, Andrew McKirdy reported the architects behind Tokyo's new National Stadium have
"rejected reports that they may be fired from the project as criticism
mounts over the building's cost and appearance."
A weekend report in the Hochi Shimbun said that Olympic chiefs
were "considering canceling the contract with Zaha Hadid Architects,
which was chosen to design the showpiece stadium." Hadid's firm late Monday night "rejected suggestions that the JSC was about to cut ties with the company." Hadid said in a statement, "Our client, the Japan Sport Council, confirms that,
together with the Japanese government, they intend to retain Zaha Hadid
Architects on the New National Stadium in Tokyo until completion in
2019" (JAPAN TIMES, 6/9).
