Photos: Critics say Tokyo stadium resembles a pile of salad plates
A new design for Tokyo stadium, the centrepiece for the 2020 Summer Olympics, was approved by the Japan Sports Council on Tuesday.
The new design for the Tokyo stadium, set to serve as the centrepiece for the Summer Olympics in 2020, was approved this week by the Japanese organizing committee.
Critics have stated the stadium resembles a “pile of salad plates.” Meanwhile, the Japan Times reports the design has become known as “the hamburger” on social media in Japan.
RELATED: Tokyo may ban smoking from the 2020 Olympics.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma submitted the design with the seven-member Japan Sports Council panel approving the project after a five-month review process.
The structure features a roof made of wood and steel drawing on traditional Japanese architecture. The original proposal by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid for a futuristic Tokyo stadium was rejected this summer because of the rising costs of hosting the Olympics.
The stadium is expected to be finished by 2019 with construction set to begin as early as December of 2016. The Japan Sports Council will finalize the construction contract with the winning party next month.
RELATED: Rio 2016 to have track laid in February.
The Tokyo Olympics are expected to cost six times the original budget, with figures being reported as high as $20.7 billion (1.8 trillion yen).
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