Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the construction completion ceremony of the New National Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed the completion of the National Stadium built for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Sunday, his speech at the Kengo Kuma-designed venue praising the efforts to finish on schedule after an early setback.
The stadium, built at a cost of 156.9 billion yen (£1.13 billion), will have a capacity of 68,000 when it hosts the Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 24.
General view of the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato
It will stage athletics and soccer events at the Games as well as the closing ceremony.
During his speech, Abe referred to the challenges organisers faced when the original design was scrapped because of a public outcry over spiralling costs.
The change meant construction did not begin until December 2016 and the stadium was unable to host matches at this year's Rugby World Cup as originally planned.
General view of the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. Picture taken by a fish-eye lens. REUTERS/Issei Kato
“For this National Stadium, which will be the symbol of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games, I assume there must have been many difficulties for the process of its construction,” said Abe.
"The design was changed during the process.
“It is purely the result of everyone’s ‘All Japan’ contribution and hard work, so that we finally celebrate today.”
General view of the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Sunday’s ceremony was restricted to a small number of officials and the first public event will be on Dec. 21.
The Emperor’s Cup soccer final will be the first sporting contest to be staged there on New Year’s Day.
“We have to make next year’s Tokyo Games an opportunity to share dreams and hopes, to create a proud legacy, show Japan’s power to the world, and open up the future of this country,” said Abe.
General view of the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. Picture taken by a fish-eye lens. REUTERS/Issei Kato
The 2020 Olympics run from July 24 to Aug. 9.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Spectators gate units are seen at the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Issei KatoGeneral view of the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Issei KatoGeneral view of the New National Stadium, the main stadium of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, after the construction completion ceremony in Tokyo, Japan December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Issei KatoPeople pose during a group photograph during the construction completion ceremony of the New National Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Seen here are (L-R) Architect Kengo Kuma, Azusa Sekkei Co. President Fumihiko Sugitani, Taisei Corp. Chairman Takashi Yamauchi, Japan Sport Council President Kazumi Ohigashi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Science Koichi Hagiuda, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Seiko Hashimoto, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kazuyoshi Akaba, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, and Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Vice President Toshiaki Endo. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERSJapan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives for the construction completion ceremony of the New National Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERSPeople pose during a group photograph during the construction completion ceremony of the New National Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Seen here are (L-R) Architect Kengo Kuma, Azusa Sekkei Co. President Fumihiko Sugitani, Taisei Corp. Chairman Takashi Yamauchi, Japan Sport Council President Kazumi Ohigashi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Science Koichi Hagiuda, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Seiko Hashimoto, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kazuyoshi Akaba, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, and Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Vice President Toshiaki Endo. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERSArchitect Kengo Kuma, Azusa Sekkei Co. President Fumihiko Sugitani, Taisei Corp. Chairman Takashi Yamauchi, Japan Sport Council President Kazumi Ohigashi, and Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Science Koichi Hagiuda pose for a group photograph during the construction completion ceremony of the New National Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS
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