Tokyo will announce a Request for Proposal in early September to design and build the new National Stadium, which has stalled since the government abandoned the initial plan in July. After the design work completed by the appointed group, the government and the contractors will negotiate over the cost, followed by the groundbreaking. A meeting of the relevant Cabinet members took place in Tokyo on August 14, approving the basic guidelines to develop the 2020 Olympic Games’ main venue. The development plan including more details such as the number of seats and the limit of construction cost is due in the following week.

The administration stated that the stadium should complete by spring 2020. The contractors will begin drawing the design in January 2016 and are expected to launch construction in December. A technical panel consisting of academic professionals in construction and engineering will supervise the Japan Sports Council, which is responsible for the project, in the process of procurement and contracting. (2015/08/18)