(ATR) Architecture firm Zaha Hadid says their design for the Japanese national stadium is not the reason for the project’s $2 billion budget.
In a statement released on July 17, the firm says the problems over the stadium cost have come from "agreeing to an acceptable construction cost against the backdrop of steep annual increases in construction costs in Tokyo and a fixed deadline."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on July 17 that all plans for the new national stadium have been scrapped and will be redesigned. He added that the venue will no longer host matches for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but must be ready for the 2020 Olympic Games.
"We have used our experience on major sports and cultural projects, including the hugely successful London 2012 Games and legacy, to design a stadium that can be built cost-effectively and still deliver the flexible and robust National Stadium that the Japan Sports Council requires," Zaha Hadid said in a statement.
"It is absolutely right that the benefits and costs of the new National Stadium should be clearly and accurately communicated and understood by the public and decision-makers in Japan and we hope that this is one of the objectives of the review announced by the Prime Minister."
Despite the drastic changes in plans, a long-lasting national stadium is the priority for Tokyo 2020 and the IOC.
John Coates, IOC vice president and Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission chair, said in a statement the IOC will work with Tokyo 2020 to "ensure that what is needed for the Games is delivered in the revised plan."
"We take note of the decision by Prime Minister Abe to review the design plan and to look for a feasible solution that will offer a state of the art stadium with top level conditions for athletes and spectators," Coates said in a statement.
"The National Stadium is a national project, which will serve the people of Japan for many years to come. This is why the Japanese government is best placed to decide on what is appropriate for this venue."
Written by Aaron Bauer
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