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Another $400M For Tokyo Olympics
Despite efforts being made by the organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to cut costs, it was announced last week that an extra 44 billion yen ($389 million) will be needed to either build new facilities or modernize existing ones in areas outside of Tokyo.
Kyodo News via AP – Tokyo National Stadium
Tokyo held a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 11 for a $1.5 billion new National Stadium to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
In addition, the local Olympic committee is going to have to come up with 50 billion yen to turn the athletes’ village into condominiums after the games are over, according to Kyodo news service.
The out-of-town venues are in Hokkaido, Miyagi, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba and Shizuoka Prefectures, and include two soccer stadiums (2.7 billion yen each), a golf club, a basketball arena and a shooting range operated by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Forces.
These estimates, however, still do not include costs for the newly added baseball and softball events, which will be held at
Originally, the organizers had planned to cover all costs for temporary facilities themselves, but as expenses have risen in the past several years they have asked local governments to chip in.
Currently, the matter is complicated by the decision to use the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama as the venue for the golfing events. It was revealed last month that the club discriminates against women in its membership policy. The International Olympic Committee has objected to the policy and demanded that either the club amend its rules or the event be moved to a different golf links.
Local media have reported that the choice of Kasumigaseki was forced by powerful business leaders and politicians who patronize the course. Previously, a smaller public course was going to be used. Kasumigaseki is also located more than two hours by car from the Olympic Village, causing many to question why it was selected in the first place.