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NEWS
Zaha Hadid cries foul as Tokyo 2020 stadium design is chosen
POSTED 22 Dec 2015 . BY Matthew Campelli
Kengo Kuma's design includes a track and field below ground level Credit: Japan Sports Council via Associated Press
Japanese architects Kengo Kuma have been selected to design the 80,000 capacity stadium which will be the centrepiece of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The design was selected by the Japanese government after it was put forward by the Japanese Sports Council as one of two shortlisted proposals last week.

Kuma’s design will cost ¥149bn (£806m, US$1.2bn, €1.1bn) and is due to be completed by November 2019. It will be built by construction giant Taisei Corp.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the proposal was a “wonderful plan that meets criteria such as basic principles, construction period and cost”, but the decision was slammed by British architect, Zaha Hadid, who had originally been on board to design the stadium before Abe pulled the plug.

“Sadly the Japanese authorities, with the support of some of those from our own profession in Japan, have colluded to close the doors on the project to the world,” the company said in a statement.

“This is shocking treatment of an international design and engineering team, as well as the respected Japanese design companies with whom we worked, was not about design or budget,” added the statement. “In fact much of our two years of detailed work and the cost savings we recommended have been validated by the remarkable similarities of our original detailed stadium layout and our seating bowl configured with those of the design announced today.”

Kuma’s design incorporates a combined steel and wood structure with a flat roof and greenery along its surrounding concourse. The 50m (164ft) structure was chosen by an expert panel over a proposal put together by a consortium which included Takenaka, Shimizu, Obayashi and Toyo Ito.

“The stadium incorporates the views of experts in the construction field and we are looking forward very much to using the new stadium as the centrepiece of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” said president of Tokyo 2020, Yoshiro Mori.
RELATED STORIES
  Zaha Hadid Architects question Japanese government's logic for Olympic stadium designs


The architects of the original Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium have accused the Japanese government of putting the legacy of the Games in jeopardy and overlooking several designers after it unveiled two new plans for the arena.
  Japan Sports Council unveils Olympic Stadium designs


Two stadium designs for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been revealed by the Japanese Sports Council.
  Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic cycling venues approved by IOC


The venue master plan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is slowly taking shape following the confirmation of four locations for the Games’ cycling events.
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NEWS
Zaha Hadid cries foul as Tokyo 2020 stadium design is chosen
POSTED 22 Dec 2015 . BY Matthew Campelli
Kengo Kuma's design includes a track and field below ground level Credit: Japan Sports Council via Associated Press
Japanese architects Kengo Kuma have been selected to design the 80,000 capacity stadium which will be the centrepiece of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The design was selected by the Japanese government after it was put forward by the Japanese Sports Council as one of two shortlisted proposals last week.

Kuma’s design will cost ¥149bn (£806m, US$1.2bn, €1.1bn) and is due to be completed by November 2019. It will be built by construction giant Taisei Corp.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the proposal was a “wonderful plan that meets criteria such as basic principles, construction period and cost”, but the decision was slammed by British architect, Zaha Hadid, who had originally been on board to design the stadium before Abe pulled the plug.

“Sadly the Japanese authorities, with the support of some of those from our own profession in Japan, have colluded to close the doors on the project to the world,” the company said in a statement.

“This is shocking treatment of an international design and engineering team, as well as the respected Japanese design companies with whom we worked, was not about design or budget,” added the statement. “In fact much of our two years of detailed work and the cost savings we recommended have been validated by the remarkable similarities of our original detailed stadium layout and our seating bowl configured with those of the design announced today.”

Kuma’s design incorporates a combined steel and wood structure with a flat roof and greenery along its surrounding concourse. The 50m (164ft) structure was chosen by an expert panel over a proposal put together by a consortium which included Takenaka, Shimizu, Obayashi and Toyo Ito.

“The stadium incorporates the views of experts in the construction field and we are looking forward very much to using the new stadium as the centrepiece of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” said president of Tokyo 2020, Yoshiro Mori.
RELATED STORIES
Zaha Hadid Architects question Japanese government's logic for Olympic stadium designs


The architects of the original Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium have accused the Japanese government of putting the legacy of the Games in jeopardy and overlooking several designers after it unveiled two new plans for the arena.
Japan Sports Council unveils Olympic Stadium designs


Two stadium designs for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been revealed by the Japanese Sports Council.
Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic cycling venues approved by IOC


The venue master plan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is slowly taking shape following the confirmation of four locations for the Games’ cycling events.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx- Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
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COMPANY PROFILES
Clip 'n Climb

Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and investors more than 40 colourful and unique Cha [more...]
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
TechnoAlpin Indoor

TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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