Tokyo 2020 Olympics Stadium plans scaled down

The Japan Sport Council (JSC) has conceded to demands for the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 main stadium to be scaled down following concerns that its bulk would overshadow other buildings in the area.

The proposed stadium, designed by London-based architect Zaha Hadid and with a shape described as being similar to a futuristic cycle helmet, was to have soared to 70 metres in height, dwarfing neighbouring structures which are limited to 15 metres.

With Tokyo elected to host the 2020 Olympics by the International Olympic Committee in September, the JSC had planned to rebuild the 48,000-seat national stadium that hosted the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, with the new stadium seating 80,000.

However, as a result of objections, the JSC has announced that the new stadium will be reduced in size by about 25% with a downsized version of Hadid's initial design still to be used. The downsizing will also reduce construction costs, which had also been the subject of further criticism.

The downsizing of the Tokyo Stadium follows criticism of another Zaha Hadid stadium design, for Qatar's Al-Wakrah stadium, designed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Hadid's exuberant design for the Al-Wakrah stadium, apparently inspired by the sails of Arab dhows, has been criticised for resembling a vagina, rising out of the Qatari desert in a great vulvic bulge.

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