Tokyo's Olympic cutbacks: Bowing to Cost Concerns

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In Japan, construction of the main stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is underway, despite the fact that the final budget for the games still hasn't been locked down.

Recent estimates have put the total Tokyo Olympic price tag at around 13 billion US dollars, but it now appears that figure is set to take a trimming.

Masa Takaya of the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games recounts that the move to cut costs started early, and some cuts have already been achieved.

CGTN Photo

"We were able to reduce the venue cost by more than 2 billion US dollars," Takaya said of initial budget cuts that many contend were implemented due to a public outcry against the costly new National Stadium construction plan.

But, Takaya asserts that there were several other important considerations: "Soon after the Organizing Committee launch, Tokyo 2020 started the whole venue master plan review from the perspective of legacy, impact to the citizens of Tokyo, and venue maintenance cost."

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics originally unveiled an audacious main stadium design by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, but the design was ultimately rejected as being too costly.

Original Zaha Hadid Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium Design /VCG Photo

And, Takaya says that a vital International Olympic Committee consideration came to the fore: sustainability.

"Sustainability as one of the key pillars, key themes of the Olympic agenda 2020, and it says, 'maximum use of the existing venues.' "As such, Tokyo 2020 organizers expanded use of existing facilities from 40% of venues to 60%, solving part – but not all – of the challenge.

The new Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium is now under construction and rising steadily. Projected costs for the entire Olympics have ballooned by twice (or more) that of the original amount bid, according to certain estimates, which has some people asking: Is it worth it?

A key problem is that various costs, including anti-terrorism security and augmented transportation facilities, were not reflected in Tokyo's original Olympic bid.

Recent Stadium Design /VCG Photo

Tomoyuki SUZUKI, a sports policy expert and assistant professor at Kokushikan University Law School, explains: "IOC requested Tokyo to show a budget of the Olympics on specific points, but not all. But, by their explanation, we thought the budget was for all Olympic costs."

Mr. SUZUKI adds that the aftermath of Fukushima continues to have a negative impact. "After the Fukushima March 11 disaster, building material costs and contractors' fees have gone up and up. The Olympic budget requires more and more."

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organizing Committee promises to announce the revised budget by year's end. Stay with CGTN News for the latest updates on this story, and more.

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