NHK


 

The main stadium of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been completed.

An inspection of the new National Stadium ended at noon on Saturday. It followed the completion of building work in mid-November. Construction began three years ago.

The stadium features traditional Japanese building techniques, and uses timber from all of the country's 47 prefectures.

It comprises three-tiered stands, and has a 60-meter-long partial roof that overhangs about 60,000 seats.

The opening and closing ceremonies for the Games, as well as the athletic events, will be staged at the stadium.

Construction costs came to 152.9 billion yen, or about 1.4 billion dollars, meaning the project came in under the government's budget.

The structure was redesigned after the initial plan was scrapped due to its high projected costs and other factors.

A completion ceremony is scheduled for mid-December, followed by an event to show the stadium to the public.

It will host its first sporting event, the final of the Emperor's Cup soccer, on January 1 next year.