After months of dispute over the cost of the main stadium for the 2020 Olympics, the central and metropolitan governments "reached a deal Tuesday in which Tokyo will shoulder" 39.5B yen ($321M) of the estimated 158.1B yen ($1.2B) construction cost, according to Shusuke Murai of the JAPAN TIMES. Following talks between Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe, Olympics Minister Toshiaki Endo and Sports & Education Minister Hiroshi Hase, Endo said that "the central government will foot half the bill for the new National Stadium and related construction work," and that it had asked Tokyo and the Japan Sport Council, which is overseeing the project, to cover the rest. Masuzoe "accepted the proposal, saying the figure was a result of marathon discussions between the metropolitan and central governments" (JAPAN TIMES, 12/1). NHK reported Endo said that the central government "will pay about half that amount" of just over 79B yen ($650M). He "asked the Tokyo metropolitan government to shoulder" 39.5B yen. Endo explained that the remaining $324M will come from football lottery proceeds. Masuzoe agreed that Tokyo "would shoulder its burden, saying the main stadium is necessary to make the Games a success and would greatly benefit city residents over the long term." He said that "he plans to have the city assembly fully debate the issue to gain public understanding" (NHK, 12/1). The AP reported the city "will also cover some related costs, such as a pedestrian walkway and maintenance for the stadium, which is expected to become a national landmark and recreation site after the Olympics." Work on the stadium "fell behind as the government abandoned a design by renowned architect Zaha Hadid due to spiraling costs, sending organizers back to the drawing board" (AP, 12/1).
