Japan To Keep $2B Stadium Design For 2020 Olympics Despite Cost

Japan has decided to push ahead with the construction of a "controversial and costly main showpiece venue" for the 2020 Olympics, despite "stringent criticism" from architects, according to the AFP. The sports ministry has reached a deal with two construction firms to build the new national stadium in Tokyo for an estimated cost of $2B. That marks a 90B yen ($73M) price rise since the "sleek, futuristic design" by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid originally won an int'l competition in '12, up from 162.5B yen ($1.3B). But officials have "adjusted the design as they attempted to cut cost," to eliminate aspects of the design that are difficult to realize, and to shorten the construction time. The stadium's retractable roof will be built after the Olympics. The number of permanent seats will be reduced to 65,000 from the original 80,000. Construction will begin in October, and officials hope it will be finished by the spring of '19, in time for the Rugby World Cup (AFP, 6/24).