Tokyo Unveils Heat-busting Stadium, 7 Months Before Olympics
Zeeshan Mehtab Published December 15, 2019 | 12:00 PM
Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2019 ) :Tokyo formally unveiled its 60,000-seater main Olympic Stadium Sunday, more than seven months before the 2020 Opening Ceremony -- with a host of special features to beat the feared heat.
Built on the site of the former national stadium used for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, it has five floors above ground and two below, with greenery planted on the decks to provide shade from the scorching summer sun.
The eaves around the outer perimeter keep out sunlight and rain and will help channel breeze into the stadium. There are also eight mist spraying facilities, 185 fans and 16 air-conditioned lounges.
Opening the facility, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed its "top-level universal design" and "harmony with its surrounding environment." Renowned architect Kengo Kuma designed the stadium along traditional Japanese lines, with the use of wooden eaves and domestic lumber helping it to blend into the surroundings in central Tokyo.
The stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies plus the flagship athletics events.
However, the marathon will not have its traditional finish there, as the event has been moved to Japan's northern island of Hokkaido to avoid the expected heat and humidity of the capital.
The unveiling will come as a relief after the humiliation in September 2016, when Abe scrapped the original plans from late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid as the costs soared beyond $2 billion.
The stadium was also lowered to a height of 47 metres (154 feet) from the original design of 70 metres, which was criticised as too high and for being a potential eyesore on Tokyo's skyline.
Total construction costs including design and supervising fees came to 156.9 billion Yen ($1.45 billion), within the budget, according to officials.
The stadium will see its first sporting action on December 21 when former sprint champion Usain Bolt will take the track for a special exhibition relay.
The first competitive action there will be the Emperor's Cup football final on New Year's Day.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
DIG directs SSPs to take unrelenting action against organized crimes
Govt committed to provide relief to poor people: Khawaja Asif
Pakistan aims to agree outline of new IMF loan in May - Finance Minister
Pakistan's indigenous products can enter global market: Experts
Roti, naan will be available at official rates. Nanbai Association
Lacking storm drains, Dubai sees persistent flooding
West Bank villagers vigilant but vulnerable after settler attacks
Sindh to upgrade primary schools to reduce dropout rate
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
PTF meeting for polio eradication held
Emaan Pakistan Eid-Mela inaugurated
BISP cash disbursement center set up
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results
13 minutes ago -
Inaugurate of fitness gym at Ayum Stadium on 25th April
13 minutes ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
13 minutes ago -
Women’s One-Day tournament: Multan beat Rawalpindi, Quetta beat Peshawar, Lahore beat Karachi
13 minutes ago -
Argentinian Etcheverry sees off Norrie to head into Barcelona Open semis
2 hours ago -
Pakistan all set to face New Zealand tomorrow
4 hours ago
-
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
4 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
4 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
5 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
5 hours ago -
PM Youth Talent Hunt girls & boys table tennis championship begins
6 hours ago -
O'Sullivan eyes eighth snooker world title amid more retirement talk
6 hours ago