Tokyo 2020 facing controversy with Olympic flame in partly wooden stadium

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are more than four years away but there is already controversy surrounding the location of the Olympic cauldron in the national stadium.

According to the Japan Times, organizers failed to include a spot for the cauldron in the design proposal for the new stadium. To make matters worse, much of the stadium is lined with a wooden interior creating a problematic situation for a possible location.

RELATED: Photos: Critics say Tokyo stadium resembles a pile of salad plates.

Organizers are blaming the omission on a lack of communication between the government and the participating parties.

According to the Japan Times, the commission for the 2020 Olympics will review a possible location so it follows the Japanese Fire Act, which sets out regulations in relation to fire safety.

The Olympic cauldron is an iconic part of the Games, with a traditional torch relay held in the lead up to the event. The flame is typically located inside the main stadium which hosts athletics as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

Though only in the preliminary stages of construction, the Games are expected to be significantly over budget. Some estimates say that the 2020 Olympics will be six times over budget, with figures as high as $21 billion (1.8 trillion yen).