By Nick Butler

Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe has revealed plans to review the choice of venues for Tokyo 2020 ©AFP/Getty ImagesVenue plans for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will be "revised" due to concerns over the projected cost of the Games, Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe revealed today.


According to the Tokyo 2020 candidature file, the total spending for the 37 competition venues for Tokyo 2020 was provisionally forecast at JPY¥455.4 billion (£2.7 billion/$4.5 billion//€3.3 billion).

Of this total, 22 of the venues are to be newly constructed, with 11 due to become permanent venues and 11 developed on a temporary basis.

But speaking at a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly meeting today, Masuzoe, the former Health Minister elected Governor in February, claimed the overall plan for the venues needs to be reviewed. 

"We must respond to concerns over rising facilities costs, including rising costs for labour and construction materials," Masuzoe said, according to broadcaster NHK. 

"We will review the plan as soon as possible from that point of view and revise what needs to be revised appropriately and promptly so that there will be no obstacles for the preparations for the Games."

He added that the International Olympic Committee, who awarded the Games to the Japanese capital last September, had already been informed about the proposed revision.

Initial plans are to be altered nine months after Tokyo was awarded the Games during the IOC Session in Buenos Aires ©AFP/Getty ImagesInitial plans are to be altered nine months after Tokyo was awarded the Games during the IOC Session in Buenos Aires ©AFP/Getty Images



Masuzoe's words were followed by a statement by Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori, who claimed he and the other members of the Organising Committee agreed on the need to review the plan for the venues.

After expressing the aim to "further improve the quality of the tournament and to leave a legacy to Tokyo", Mori confirmed they would "consider again the venue plan, because it is necessary to review it".

He added it is due to be discussed further at a Tokyo 2020 Metropolitan Government Coordination meeting on Thursday (June 12).

Most of the criticism surrounding construction has so far focussed on plans for the new 80,000 National Stadium, which was closed last month and is due to be redeveloped. 

The decision follows the criticism of the design for the new National Stadium, with the old one having closed for renovation last month ©Tokyo 2020The decision follows the criticism of the design for the new National Stadium, with the old one having closed for renovation last month ©Tokyo 2020



 
Two protests were launched against the Zaha Hadid-designed stadium, on the grounds it will be "too big and two expensive" and would cause environmental damage to the local area.

The Japan Sports Council have announced plans to downscale the Stadium, with a new budget totalling JPY¥162.5 billion (£956 million/$1.6 billion/€1.1 billion) being announced, almost 50 per cent less than original projections.

The National Stadium was not mentioned specifically in the announcement by Masuzoe today, but it can be assumed concerns that originated there have now grown to encompass every other venue as well.

It comes at a time where there is much concern in the Olympic Movement about the spiralling costs involved in hosting the Games leading to a reluctance in many, predominantly European countries, to bid.

The race for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics has been particularly affected, with Stockholm and Kraków each withdrawing from the contest amid doubts over support, while Oslo, one of the four remaining applicants, is still yet to receive an endorsement from the Norwegian Government. 

The fact even Japan, which boasts the third highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world behind only the United States and China, should be affected, underlines the significance of these concerns.