TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $1.5 billion National Stadium to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Koike and other dignitaries attended the event Sunday at the site of the demolished National Stadium that was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. They launched the construction of the stadium by putting their hands on a glass sphere that rotated through pastels of the colors of the Olympic logo.

The ceremony ended with a video replete with computer graphics showing how the stadium is expected to look and function once completed by November 2019.

Work on the stadium in the center of the city fell behind schedule because the government abandoned the original design amid spiraling costs and complaints. </s> Tokyo held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday for a $1.5 billion National Stadium to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and other dignitaries launched the construction at the site of the demolished National Stadium, which was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, by putting their hands on a glass sphere that rotated through pastels of the colors of the Olympic logo.

The ceremony ended with a video replete with computer graphics showing how the stadium is expected to look and function once completed by November 2019.

Work on the stadium in the center of the city fell behind schedule because the government abandoned the original design amid spiraling costs and complaints over its scale and appearance.

Koike, Tokyo's first female governor, took office in July pledging to use her platform to host a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly 2020 Olympics. She has lambasted organizers of the 2020 games for failing to keep costs under control.

An expert panel she appointed put the price tag of the 2020 Games at over $30 billion, barring drastic cost-cutting measures, a more than a four-fold increase from the initial estimate when the city was awarded the games in 2013.

Fans of the old stadium, built in the late 1950s, had lobbied to keep and renovate it. But in the end the government opted to replace it with a more modern facility.

Kengo Kuma, the architect of the new, open-air stadium, chose a wooden lattice design that echoes traditional styles seen in Japanese shrines and pagodas. It is intended to blend in with surrounding parkland and will be structured to minimize costs for heating and cooling.

The structure will use Japanese-grown larch in its wood and steel composite roof and prefabricated panels to help speed the work along and contain costs. </s> Tokyo has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $1.5bn (£1.2bn) national stadium that will host the 2020 Olympic Games.

The prime minister, Shinzo Abe, Tokyo’s governor, Yuriko Koike, and other dignitaries attended the event on Sunday at the site of the demolished national stadium that was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. They launched the construction of the stadium by putting their hands on a glass sphere that rotated through pastels of the colours of the Olympic logo.

The ceremony ended with a video showing how the stadium is expected to look and function once completed by November 2019.

Work on the stadium in the centre of the city fell behind schedule because the government scrapped controversial plans for a dramatic Zaha Hadid-designed $2bn stadium envisioned as the focal point of the 2020 Games amid concerns about rising costs and a growing public backlash.

Koike took office in July pledging to use her platform to host a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly Olympics. She has lambasted organisers of the 2020 Games for failing to keep costs under control.



An expert panel she appointed put the price tag of the 2020 Games at more than $30bn , barring drastic cost-cutting measures, more than a four-fold increase from the initial estimate when the city was awarded the Games in 2013.



Fans of the old stadium, built in the late 1950s, lobbied to keep and renovate it, but the government opted to replace it with a more modern facility.

Kengo Kuma, the architect of the new stadium, chose a wooden lattice design that echoes traditional styles seen in Japanese shrines and pagodas. It is intended to blend in with surrounding parkland and will be structured to minimise costs for heating and cooling.

The structure will use Japanese-grown larch in its wood and steel composite roof and prefabricated panels to help speed the work along and contain costs. </s> The Olympics are about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E.

On Saturday, Tokyo, Japan, defeated Istanbul for the right to host the 2020 Olympics, even after concerns that the lingering affects of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster would cause contamination and safety concerns for athletes and spectators.

“Tokyo can be trusted to be the safe pair of hands and much more,” bid leader and IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda said in the final presentation. “Our case today is simple. Vote for Tokyo and you vote for guaranteed delivery. … Tokyo is the right partner at the right time.” Tokyo had been on the defensive in the final days of the campaign because of mounting concerns over the leak of radioactive water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. In the final presentation, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave the IOC assurances that the Fukushima leak was not a threat to Tokyo and took personal responsibility for keeping the games safe. “Let me assure you the situation is under control,” Abe said. “It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo.” (via AP)

Of course, this is a severe, hilarious red flag for anyone who has ever seen the classic 1988 anime Akira. In the film, Japan is set to host the 2020 Olympics (seriously) several years after an explosion destroyed Tokyo (seriously). At the time, that was in reference to the last time Japan hosted the games back in 1964, when the fallout from World War II was still fresh but the atomic bombing of Hiroshima had been more or less mind-wiped from the memories of the Japanese. Now it’s just eerily-prescient, and can replace “Chicago wins the World Series in 2015 in Back To The Future II” as our Nostradamus 80s movie prediction of choice.

I won’t spoil the film if you haven’t seen it (or the manga, if you haven’t read it), but if Japan starts building glorious new Olympic stadiums, we should really, really check to make sure what they’re hiding under it.

This is what Japan’s Olympic dreams look like in 2013 … </s> The deal enables the company to recruit Torchbearers and conduct promotional activities using the Olympic Torch Relay emblem.

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori, welcomed the support of the soft drink giant - a sponsor of the Olympic Games since Amsterdam 1928.

Coca-Cola is now a member of the International Olympic Committee's TOP sponsorship scheme.

"We are delighted to welcome Coca-Cola as the first presenting partner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay," Mori said.

"Coca-Cola has supported the Olympic Torch Relay as a presenting partner at 12 previous editions of the Games and leveraging their deep experience, we plan to make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay a successful event that will help get everyone fired up before the Games."

The Relay is due to commence its journey across Japan on March 26 in 2020 in Fukushima Prefecture.

It will start its journey southwards.

The Torch is likely to traverse the inland prefectures of central Japan against the backdrop of Japan's famous cherry blossoms, which typically bloom there in early April.

The Relay is then scheduled to proceed southwest until it reaches the islands of Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, in early May.

It will make its way back up to the north of the country, passing through Kyoto in late May, all the way up to Hokkaido, where it is set to arrive in mid-June.

The Relay will then turn southwards again and complete its long journey in Tokyo after spending three days in each of the four prefectures outside of the capital that are hosting events during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The torch will traverse Japan for a total of 121 days.

Jorge Garduño, the President of Coca-Cola Japan, mirrored the excitement of Mori, adding: "We are tremendously proud to be the longest continuous partner of the Olympic Games, with a relationship that started back in 1928.

"And we have also been deeply involved in the Olympic Torch Relay since 1992.

"Today, we are extremely excited to announce that we have become the first presenting partner for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay.

"Our goal is to spread the excitement of the Olympic spirit by offering once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the Olympic Movement.

"We are sure that this will be an unforgettable and special experience." </s> 57 perish from the heatwave in Japan but the 2020 Olympics to be held in the same period

At least 57 people have perished in the last week in Japan based on the horrendous heatwave. At the same time, over 18,000 people have been treated at countless hospitals because of the extremely high temperature and terrible humidity. However, despite this, and the Olympic Committee and Japan knowing full well the problem of heat during this time period in Japan, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will be held during the same period.

Of course, the immediate concern is for people facing the ongoing heatwave in Japan. After all, it is more than likely that the death toll will increase further. Similarly, the number of people going to hospitals will increase further. Hence, it is imperative that people take precautions.

Turning back to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, then it seems incredulous that the Olympics will be held during the same time period. This applies to athletes, volunteers, local people attending the Olympics, and international spectators. Therefore, why hold the 2020 Tokyo Olympics during such horrendous heat and humidity?

The schedule of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is the Opening Ceremony on 24 July and the Closing Ceremony on 9 August. In other words, the nightmare period of the usually hot summer will cover the period of the Olympics. This notably applies to late July and the month of August that is extremely hot and humid – and full of pesky mosquitoes.

Of course, the Local Government of Tokyo will take precautions to help athletes and spectators. Yet, the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo were held in the cooler period of October in order to avoid such scorching heat. Hence, enormous expenditure is being spent to alleviate the situation. Also, certain popular events will be held earlier in the day. However, this will hinder many people in Japan from viewing the Olympics based on work and so forth.

The ongoing heatwave will continue in Japan during the August period. Therefore, more people will likely perish from the terrible heat and humidity. Hence, it seems bizarre to hold the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 during the same period.

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https://www.pinterest.co.uk/moderntokyotimes/ Modern Tokyo Times is now on PINTEREST </s> Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, under direction from Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, is exploring whether to bring in daylight saving time as a way to avoid competition being held during the hottest times of the day.

Concerns regarding the climate in Tokyo during the Olympics and Paralympics have grown after the heat was blamed for the deaths of more than 130 people.

The heatwave in July was declared a natural disaster amid the rising death toll.

Sprinklers, mist showers and special pavements are among other possible solutions, with Tokyo 2020 claiming they would implement "detailed heat countermeasures with three targets; for spectators, for workforces and for athletes".

Events such as the marathons and long-distance race walks were brought forward by Tokyo 2020 in an attempt to combat fears over the high temperatures.

Japan is among a handful of major economies that does not use daylight saving time during the summer months and Mori said that was unacceptable for a country of its stature.

"Among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and G7 countries, Japan is only one that doesn’t have daylight saving time," Mori, a former Japanese Prime Minister, told the Japan Times.

"This is an international standard.

"It is not acceptable that Japan doesn't have it.

"I know many people are against this idea, but it also contributes to creating a low-carbon society.

"Japan should show the world that we are making an effort to make it happen.

"If we try, introducing daylight saving time can become one of the legacies of the Tokyo Games.”

Mori said he had "no concerns" with Tokyo 2020's preparations, which have come into the spotlight in recent weeks following the two years to go milestones until the start of the Olympics and the beginning of the Paralympics.

The 81-year-old conceded, however, that organisers had a "lot of issues to solve".

"Look at the highways - most of them were built for the 1964 Tokyo Games," he said.

"The population increased and our economy expanded.

"It is impossible to use those roads without building new ones.

"There will be traffic jams here and there during the Olympics and Paralympics.

“We also have to establish an anti-terrorism policy.

"Since recently, we have to worry about cyberterrorism, too.

"It is difficult to predict how it will happen but we have to deal with it.” </s> Download the CBS Sports App today and get instant NCAA tournament news and alerts, plus get the latest picks and upsets from SportsLine!

The United States of America moves to its first ever World Baseball Classic final, by virtue of taking down two-time champion Japan in the semifinals on Tuesday night, 2-1. The final will be on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT in Dodger Stadium vs. Puerto Rico, which is undefeated to this point.

Here are nine things to know from the USA victory:

1. USA fans again got a taste of the Japanese atmosphere

Japan won the event in both 2006 and 2009 and then advanced to AT&T Park in the 2013 semifinals. The Japanese fans travel well and get plenty of Japanese Americans to the games as well. They do things a bit differently than the USA fans or even the loud and extremely enthusiastic fans from Latin American countries.

They have bands. Said bands play certain songs during every Japanese at-bat, with each hitter being assigned a song at times.

Here’s a sample from the official WBC Twitter account:

I also heard the “Back to the Future” theme song a few times, which is all kinds of awesome.

This is definitely different than what many of us are used to. I can see it being a very polarizing topic where some think it’s fun and others absolutely despise it.

For at least the first five innings, it was raining in Dodger Stadium, which is a rarity. Sometimes it was pretty steady but it didn’t really let up until the sixth inning. It picked up on occasion the rest of the way as well. The grounds crew had to become involved a few times, notably around home plate and on the mound, obviously.

So this means the conditions were a bit tougher than usual, notably on hard groundballs where the ball would be picking up wetness on its way to the fielder. Ian Kinsler and Brandon Crawford uncharacteristically had trouble on one ball each.

Of course, this happens sometimes in Major League Baseball, and the players are more equipped for it.

In the Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan’s major league), most stadiums are domes with turf. For the most part, the outstanding Japan defense handled itself well.

3. USA’s first run scored thanks to an error

I said “for the most part,” because USA’s first run was unearned. Christian Yelich hit a relatively hard -- but not scorching or anything -- grounder right at second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi, and he booted it.

Bear in mind, this is a man who has four Golden Gloves (NPB’s version of the Gold Glove, obviously) in four seasons and is considered a defensive wizard. He committed only four errors in 836 chances last season (.995). The weather most certainly had a hand in this one.

And USA would make Japan pay. After a Nolan Arenado strikeout and Eric Hosmer walk, Andrew McCutchen would deliver the two-out, go-ahead single

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and Japan trailing 1-0, Kikuchi clubbed a home run off USA reliever Nate Jones to right field. It was a wall-scraper and initially it looked like McCutchen -- how about that coincidence? -- robbed him. Instead, Cutch just missed the ball and the game was tied.

Sure, maybe the rain helped a little, but the pitchers had to deal with wet baseballs as well.

Tanner Roark went for USA and threw four scoreless innings. He allowed only two hits and a walk. There was a timely double play and a hard ball hit or two, but it was mostly soft contact or routine fly balls. He pitched to contact, too, only striking out one.

He was outshined, in my opinion, by Japan starter Tomoyuki Sugano. In six innings of work, he gave up just one run on three hits, but that was an unearned run as mentioned above. He struck out six while walking just one, and that was with two outs and a base to work with. The USA hitters were stuck attempting to check swings often due to being caught so off-guard by his arsenal, too.

6. Power, weather and the contact play worked for USA in the eighth

Brandon Crawford picked up a one-out single that was hit awfully hard to right in the eighth. Then Ian Kinsler hit a ball that looked like it was going to end up over the left-center fence. Crawford didn’t score due to what looked like caution with the wet/muddy infield. So it was second and third with one out for Adam Jones, who had been clutch throughout the WBC.

On the hill for Japan was its biggest strikeout pitcher in Kodai Senga, who struck out the first four USA hitters he faced and was leading the entire WBC in strikeouts to this point. Jones isn’t exactly a contact hitter, either, but he came through and put the ball in play.

It was a soft grounder to third base, but Crawford was coming home on the contact play. He probably would’ve been out, but the weather came into play again, as Japan third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda couldn’t initially handle the ball and had to call an audible by getting the easy out at first.

And USA would head to the bottom of the eighth with a 2-1 lead.

7. Melancon and Neshek got huge outs in the eighth

Mark Melancon gave up a single and then a sac bunt, giving Japan the tying run on second base with one out and Kikuchi coming to the plate. Melancon isn’t a strikeout artist compared to other stud closers, but he got the huge strikeout.

Of course, he needed to be bailed out after walking Nori Aoki on four pitches to get to Japan’s cleanup hitter, Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh, who had 44 homers last year in NPB. He also has three so far in WBC play. Neshek worked him to a two-strike count and got a somewhat deep fly to nestle in McCutchen’s glove in right field.

Close call for USA? Yes, yes it was. The result is all that matters, though.

There was no close call in the ninth inning for Gregerson. He needed only seven pitches to dispatch of Japan’s 5-7 hitters while striking out the final batter. USA is now 5-2 in this tournament with Gregerson saving three games in four appearances. In his four innings, he hasn’t even allowed a hit, much less a run. He’s struck out three while walking one, good for a 0.25 WHIP and 0.00 ERA.

Small samples? Of course, but this entire event is a small sample. It’s not a marathon like Major League Baseball. It’s a sprint and Gregerson has stormed out of the block.

9. USA moves on to the championship game

Puerto Rico awaits for all the marbles on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on MLB Network.

The two teams last squared off last Friday in San Diego’s Petco Park, with Puerto Rico winning a thriller, 6-5 , that saw USA leave the tying run on third base -- though it was Brandon Crawford and he shouldn’t have been called safe when sliding into third. Let’s hope there’s just as much drama. That would be fun.

Seth Lugo will get the ball for Puerto Rico against Marcus Stroman for USA. It was the pitching matchup last time the two teams faced each other. Stroman didn’t fare so well, coughing up six straight hits in the first inning. He would end up settling down, allowing eight hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings. Lugo worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.

Expect the atmosphere to be crazy inside Dodger Stadium. Let’s hope the rain stays away this time.

We live-blogged the action with witty commentary, complaints, snide remarks and out usual excellent baseball knowledge. Check it out at your leisure:

If the live blog isn’t displayed below, click here to reload the page . </s> North and South Korea will jointly pursue a bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, representatives announced in a news conference Wednesday in Pyongyang, North Korea.

The bid is part of a larger move toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreeing on the first steps toward denuclearization and peace. No immediate details about the Olympic bid, such as which cities would host it, were revealed.

South Korea hosted the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, with athletes from the two countries forming a unified team. A successful 2032 bid would bring the Summer Games to the peninsula for the first time since Seoul hosted the 1988 competition.

Brisbane, Australia, plans to bid for the 2032 Games and Germany has announced plans for a multi-city bid. Tokyo will host the 2020 Games, which move to Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028. Beijing is the site of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Tokyo breaks ground for the National Olympic Stadium on the site of the stadium used for the 1964 Olympic Games.