Construction of Tokyo's Olympic Stadium completed

Tokyo's National Stadium, the centrepiece of next year's Summer Olympic Games and host to the athletics competition, was officially completed on Saturday (30 Nov).

Construction of the stadium, which will have a capacity for about 60,000, began in December 2016, was completed in 36 months at a cost of ¥157 billion ($US 1.4 billion). Besides the athletics competition, scheduled for 31 July through 10 August, the stadium will also host the opening and closing ceremonies.

“We are very pleased that construction of the stadium – a key symbol of the Tokyo 2020 Games – has now been completed; it makes us realise just how close we are getting to the start of the Games,” Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said.

“We are so looking forward to seeing athletes from all over the world marching into the new stadium at the Opening Ceremony... when the eyes of the world will be on this iconic symbol of the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

Officially called the National Stadium, it will be known as the Olympic Stadium during the Tokyo Games.

As part of the lead-in to the Games, the stadium will host the opening leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour on 10 May.

World Athletics