Japan’s sports minister, Hakihuh Shimomura, has proposed that Tokyo cut down on cost of building a new National stadium by ditching plans for a retractable roof.
The 170 billion yen ($1.42 billion) stadium is expected to host the 2020 Olympic Games and the 2019 rugby World Cup, but reports in Japan suggest Shimomura has advised some of the 80,000 seats be temporary installed, more so to hasten construction time.
The new stadium, whose design has been criticised by some prominent architect as too big and expensive, is expected to be completed in 2019.
It will be erected on the ruins of the old National stadium constructed to host the 1964 Olympic event, which has now been demolished.
However, Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe has said local government and states assembly needed to be convinced on another proposal by Shimomura that they contribute 50 billion yen (417.82 million) to the project.
In February, Japan announced they were moving or altering three venues in order to save about 1 billion dollar.
Tokyo has had to weigh in on its Olympic plans due to the rising cost of labour and construction. Tokyo will now be unable to meet an existing commitment they would host most of the Olympic events within 8km of the Games Village.