An award winning architect, Toyo Ito proposed a renovation plan of the New National Stadium, a main venue for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, hoping to replace the more costly rebuilding plan. The architect intends to bring nationwide discussion for an alternative plan and then to request the government to reconsider the current plan.

Mr. Ito revealed the plan at the symposium in Tokyo on May 12, which includes additional two or three floors to increase the capacity from 54,000 to 80,000. The cost is estimated at about a half of the projected expense of rebuilding.

Some other architects and groups of citizens have protested against the plan because of several factors in the new stadium such as its gigantic size, too-expensive cost, influence on the surrounding environment. An operator of the facility, Japan Sports Council is scheduled to start demolition of the structure in July. (2014/05/14)