Construction completed at Tokyo’s new Olympic Stadium

November 19, 2019

The Japan Sport Council has announced that construction work on Tokyo’s new National Stadium, the main venue for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, has been completed.

The 60,000-seat venue, built at a cost of 157 billion yen (US$1.4 billion), will serve as the centrepiece of the 2020 Games next summer, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics as well as athletics and football events.

Advising that only final quality and safety checks are needed before the venue can open to the public, the Japan Sports Council is set to hand over the Stadium to authorities on 30th November in advances of a celebratory ‘One Race’ event and grand opening next month.

The first sporting event at the new venue will be the final of the Emperor’s Cup football competition on 1st January.

Dogged by delays and design changes, an original design by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, which had been planned to be completed for the recent Rugby World Cup, was discarded over cost concerns.

Work on the redesigned venue, undertaken by architect Kengo Kuma, construction company Taisei Corporation and design firm Azusa Sekkei Co, eventually commenced in December 2016.

The delay meant it could not host Rugby World Cup matches, with the recent final played in Yokohama.

The completed venue features a plant-covered facade designed to maintain harmony with the natural landscape of the neighbouring Meiji Jingu Gaien area, while the eaves of the distinctive roof is made of wood gathered from the country's 47 prefectures.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will run from 24th July to 9th August next year, with the Paralympics to follow from 25th August to 6th September.

Management of the venue after the Games is uncertain, with Japan’s Education Minister Koichi Hagiuda advising that the Japanese Government has decided not to draw up a plan to immediately privatise its operations.

According to Minister Hagiuda, the privatisation scheme has been pushed back for security reasons, as detailed architectural drawings of the Stadium cannot be shown to potential bidders for the time being.

After undergoing post Games renovations, the venue is scheduled to start commercial operation in the latter half of 2022.

Last week saw Japanese media report that archaeologists had discovered the bones of 187 bodies during construction, believed to be the remains of an ancient cemetery housed within the grounds of a Buddhist temple demolished a century ago.

Image: The new Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, as photographed last week. Courtesy of Mainichi.

30th October 2019 - 12,000-seat Olympics gymnastics venue unveiled for Tokyo 2020

21st September 2019 - Competition opening sees Japan looking to stage ‘best-ever’ Rugby World Cup

6th September 2019 - Tokyo 2020 summer Olympics looks to snow machines for event cooling

20th August 2019 - Heat issues impact Tokyo Olympic test events

25th July 2019 - IOC ‘very satisfied’ with preparations for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

16th July 2019 - 2020 Olympics organisers provide Games venue construction update

8th May 2019 - Olympic sport federations call for clarity on management of Tokyo Games

7th April 2019 - New organisation for Japanese sport and entertainment venues

29th June 2018 - Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers look to showcase green technology

6th December 2016 - Spiralling budgets, venue plans dominate Tokyo 2020 meetings

2nd October 2016 - Tokyo Olympic stadium building contract finally approved

16th January 2016 - Tokyo Olympic stadium architect denies copying former design

14th December 2015 - Japan Sport Council reveals new Tokyo Olympic Stadium designs

4th December 2015 - Japanese Government agrees deal to fund Tokyo Olympic Stadium

24th July 2015 - New plan for Tokyo’s Olympic stadium as World Rugby seeks new finals venue

18th July 2015 - Scrapping of plans for Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium leaves 2019 Rugby World Cup without its key venue

29th May 2014 - Japan Sport Council gives go ahead for Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium

1st August 2012 - Japan Sport Council launches design competition for new national stadium

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.