By WANG XU in Tokyo | China Daily | Updated: 2020-12-31 09:43 Share CLOSE Tokyo commuters, such as these subway riders on Nov 30, are never far from reminders that their city is hosting the Olympics. PHILIP FONG/AFP
On New Year s Day this year, 58,000 people watched a football game in Japan s just finished $1.4 billion National Stadium.
The game was so-so, but the setting was stunning. It was a test run for the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Everything seemed on course.
The test was largely flawless and the countdown to the July 24 opening ceremony looked like a surefire success. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the host of the Games, had earlier estimated that from winning the bid in 2013 to a decade after the games in 2030, the events would give a $294 billion boost to the national economy.
23rd Dec 2020 1:25 PM The official cost of the postponed Tokyo Olympics has increased by 22 per cent, the local organising committee said in unveiling its new budget overnight. In an online news conference, organisers said the Olympics will cost $A20.4 billion to stage. This is up from $A16.7 billion in last year s budget. The added $A3.7 billion is the cost of the one-year delay. Expenses come from renegotiating contracts and measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympics are to open on July 23. The Paralympics follow on August 24. Audits by the Japanese government over the last several years, however, show the costs are higher than officially stated and are at least $A33 billion.
Tokyo Olympics costs up by 22pc to USD15 4 billion » Borneo Bulletin Online borneobulletin.com.bn - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from borneobulletin.com.bn Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Yoshiro Mori, the president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, speaks during the opening remarks session of the Tokyo2020 Olympics Executive Board Meeting on Dec. 22 in Tokyo. Honorary President Fujio Mitarai is at right. (Pool Photo via AP)
The official cost of the postponed Tokyo Olympics has increased by 22%, the local organizing committee said in unveiling its new budget on Tuesday.
In an online news conference, organizers said the Olympics will cost 1.64 trillion yen ($15.4 billion) to stage. This is up from $12.6 billion in last year’s budget.
The added $2.8 billion is the cost of the one-year delay. Expenses come from renegotiating contracts and measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Muto acknowledged the cost had increased for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics. Organizers were expected to report a figure later in the week. Japan s Kyodo news agency, citing sources close to the committee, reported the increase is about $33 million.
Decisions about fans and preventive measures for the pandemic are expected to be rolled out in the spring. Reduced fan numbers will affect ticket sales, a major source of income.
Japan has controlled COVID-19 better than most countries with 3,000 deaths attributed to the virus. That milestone was reached on Tuesday. New cases have been rising for a month, adding to public skepticism about the Olympics.