Olympic Notes: Japanese PM Abe Apologizes For Olympics Stadium Fiasco

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe "apologized publicly for squandering billions of yen in public funds on plans for the new National Stadium." The government faces a bill for around ¥6.2B ($50M) after Abe "ordered the original plans to be torn up amid mounting public anger over the stadium’s cost." Abe: "As a result of the decision to go back to the drawing board, precious public funds have been spent. I apologize deeply to the people of Japan" (JAPAN TIMES, 8/11). ... Officials from the IOC "are visiting Rio de Janeiro to determine the state of progress in preparations for next year's Games." The local organizing committee for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics "briefed the visitors, explaining the current situation with infrastructure construction and recently launched test events" (NHK WORLD, 8/10).