THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2015 SPORTS Tokyo Olympic venue shaping up as world’s costliest

TOKYO: When the dust settles on the sive ever built, two sports economists revenue stream, Olympic stadiums risk $455 million “Bird’s Nest” stadium built for Asked about the cost, Jim Heverin, the marquee venue for the 2020 Summer told The Associated Press. The latest esti- becoming “white elephants,” little used the 2008 Olympics, and the approximate- project director for the stadium for Zaha Olympics in Tokyo, it could well be the mate was a 55 percent increase over an after their two weeks of glory. ly $680 million stadium for the 2012 Hadid Architects, said in a statement that most expensive sports stadium in the earlier one of 163 billion yen. The rising price tag has put the gov- London Olympics. the design allows the roof and the specta- world. The latest cost estimate of 252 bil- “The spiraling costs come as no sur- ernment of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Japan is a rich country, but it doesn’t tor stands to be built simultaneously, sav- lion yen ($2 billion at current exchange prise,” Victor Matheson, a professor at the the defensive, at a time when his have cash to spare. More than two ing time and money and “ensuring the rates) would push it beyond the current College of the Holy Cross in approval ratings are already slipping decades of economic stagnation have left stadium will be delivered cost-effectively record-holder, the $1.6 billion MetLife sta- Massachusetts, wrote in an email because of opposition to his push to the government saddled with debt, and and on schedule against the backdrop of dium completed in 2010 for the New York response. “Most of the recent Olympics expand the international role of Japan’s the rapidly aging nation faces soaring steep annual inflation in Tokyo construc- Jets and Giants football teams. Games and World Cups have seen final military. It also doesn’t bode well for pension and health care bills. tion costs.” What is the money buying? The design costs come in far above initial estimates.” Boston and others bidding for the 2024 Public opinion, already tepid about Japan is no stranger to high-priced of the stadium’s ribbed roof on huge steel Andrew Zimbalist, an economics pro- Olympics, as well as the International building a massive new stadium in central venues. The 1998 Winter Olympics in arches resembles a bicycle helmet. To fessor at Smith College in Massachusetts, Olympic Committee’s goal of making Tokyo, has turned decisively negative Nagano were by far the most expensive support a natural grass field, the roof’s added that he suspects the cost will rise future Olympics more affordable for host since the government sharply revised up until Sochi, Russia, last year, Matheson southern end will be translucent to let in further during construction, which is due cities, Matheson said. the project cost. The government though said. Japan also held the record for the sunlight and underground will be soil to begin in October. “If a modern city like Tokyo with tons says it’s too late to make major changes most expensive World Cup stadium - the ventilation and temperature control sys- At least five stadiums costing more of highly developed infrastructure and still meet a 2019 deadline to host the $621 million Nissan Stadium that hosted tems. Movable seats will bring the crowd than $1 billion have been built world- already in place can’t make an Olympics inaugural event, the Rugby World Cup. the 2002 final in Yokohama - until Brasilia closer for more intimate events, and this wide, four for American football and work without breaking the bank, what The Japan Sports Council, which is over- built a $900 million stadium for the 2014 being Japan, the stadium will have earth- baseball teams and Wembley Stadium for chance do any other potential host cities seeing the project, attributes about one- tournament. Nissan Stadium remains in quake-resistant features. soccer in London. Tokyo’s new stadium, have,” he wrote. The IOC has approved third of the increase in price to rising use, as the home field for a J-League soc- While exchange rate fluctuations and designed by award-winning architect changes in plans for other 2020 venues in labor and materials costs, and two-thirds cer team, the Yokohama F. Marinos. The inflation make comparisons tricky, it is Zaha Hadid, would be the first to reach $2 Japan that have saved more than $1 bil- to the unusual design of the stadium. An Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia, how- safe to say that Japan’s new National billion. Unlike venues for professional lion, according to the committee. The increase in the consumption tax rate also ever, is now perhaps the world’s most Stadium will likely to be the most expen- sports teams, which generate a steady main stadium, though, far exceeds the added about 4 billion yen. expensive bus depot. — AP

TORONTO: Audrey Lacroix of competes during the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly event. Lacroix won the gold medal. — AP Coughlin stunned at Pan Am Games

TORONTO: gave a jolt to the Pan her 53.83 pipped the Pan Am mark set earlier by tops all nations in gold and overall medals. The American Games on Tuesday but the decorated US Coughlin. In the relay final, Coughlin began her United States, a Pan Am powerhouse, are second with Coughlin has eye on Rio swimmer suffered a surprising defeat while Cuba anchor leg with a slim lead but could not hang on as 19 gold medals (60 total), followed by Cuba and earned more kayaking gold. Van Landeghem again denied the Americans. Colombia, who have 14 gold each. TORONTO: The ’ and great practise.” Ordinarily, Defending champion Canada then beat Cuba in a After the race, Coughlin discussed her competitive Cuban kayaker Yusamai Mengana became the first biggest name in swimming finally Coughlin would have been preparing marquee baseball game to improve to 4-0 while future. “I know I have a few years left in me. I love woman and second athlete to win three golds at the surfaced on Tuesday but Natalie for the world swimming champi- Peruvian Francisco Boza Dibos, 50, qualified for his competing, and I want to keep representing my July 10-26 Games. Her triumph in the women’s K1 Coughlin failed to live up to her top onships in Russia that begin later this eighth Olympics by winning the men’s trap shooting country,” said Coughlin. “But I need to be realistic. It’s 200m and K2 500m came a day after fellow kayaker billing when she was beaten in the month but a bout of food poisoning final. Coughlin, a 12-times Olympic medallist, was not going to happen forever. I just want to enjoy it and compatriot Jorge Garcia won his third gold. 100 metres freestyle by Canada’s during the U.S. championships put an expected to swim away with a gold medals in the and see what happens in the next year.” Canada deliv- Cuba, who won every baseball gold medal at the Chantal Van Landeghem. end to those plans and she signed on women’s 100m freestyle and 4x100 freestyle relay but ered another dominant rowing display as they quadrennial games between 1971 and 2007 before a Coughlin, a 12-time Olympic to lead a young American team to she settled for silver in each. grabbed gold in women’s single sculls and light- third-place finish in 2011, were dealt a blow in their hopes medallist and one of the greatest Toronto. “I’m treating it as my big The 32-year-old American set a Pan Am record weight double sculls as well as the men’s quadruple of reclaiming the gold medal. By falling 3-1 to Canada, American swimmers of all-time, summer meet,” she said. “It was never during her 100 heat but was stunned by Canadian 20- sculls as part of a 23-medal day for the host nation. Cuba slipped to fourth in the seven-team competition brought a splash of class to a Games on my bucket list to go to the Pan year-old Chantal Van Landeghem in the final where Canada have 25 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze, which where the top four advance to the semis. — Reuters in desperate need of some marquee Ams but I’m glad I’m here.” magic. But it was the unheralded Van The first woman to break the one Landeghem who snatched the spot- minute mark in the 100 backstroke, light on the first day of the swimming the 32-year-old had been widely Young US gymnasts prepare competition with a late surge to expected to retire after the London touch first in a Pan Am record time of Olympics, where she failed to qualify 53.83 seconds. for an individual event, but she felt a Coughlin took silver in 54.06 with fourth trip to the Games in Rio next at Pan Am for Rio rumble Bahamas’ Arianna Vanderpool- year was still within her capabilities. “I Wallace getting the bronze. Coughlin know I have a lot of good swimming then anchored the U.S. 4x100 left in me. I love doing this,” said TORONTO: The most exciting names in makes you work harder. “It’s nice to American women arrived in Toronto important step towards their dreams of freestyle relay but was beaten to the Coughlin. “It is pretty interesting that US gymnastics, , Aly have your time in the light but training eager to gain valuable international securing one of the five coveted spots wall by the Canadians. people just assume you are going to Raisman and , will all be against them makes me work harder.” experience. For 17-year-old Desch and on the US Rio Olympic squad. “You obviously want to win but for leave when you reach a certain age competing during the Pan American While Mikulak, a two-time US cham- her Pan Am team mates Amelia “They are certainly going to be in me it is about personal achievements but I love the daily grind and I think Games-just not in Toronto. pion and 2012 Olympic team member, Hundley, , the mix, no doubt about it,” Rhonda right now,” said Coughlin who has 12 that makes it a lot easier.“I love the But the absence of the American big is a seasoned campaigner the young and , the Games are an Faehn, the senior vice-president of the Olympic and 20 world championship training, I love competing and being guns has not prevented the United women’s program for US Gymnastics, medals. “The competition here is still able to represent my country is a spe- States from dominating the Pan Am told Reuters. “This is the perfect experi- really good. There are still fast swims cial thing that is not going to happen competition where a new crop of ence because they are younger and here. “I know a lot of people are look- forever. “I am just enjoying it right champions are putting the old guard haven’t had the experience overseas at ing at this like it is not world champi- now and for the next year and hope- on notice that they will have a battle a world championship so this is a per- onships but it is still a massive meet fully will be there in Rio.”— Reuters on their hands for coveted Rio Olympic fect opportunity for them to gain expe- berths. Two-time world all-around rience. champion Biles, Douglas, the darling of “You never know, that is the beauty the 2012 London Olympics, and her of gymnastics, you never know what gold medal-winning Fierce Five team competition can light or spark a level of mates Raisman and , are all confidence in an athlete. competing at the U.S. Classic in “We’ve seen it before.” Prior to the Chicago on July 25. 2012 Summer Games, Douglas was the Their absence from the Pan Am unknown newcomer viewed as an games has given the U.S. squad of hun- Olympic longshot. gry up and comers an opportunity to But she left London as perhaps the grab the spotlight. biggest Olympic star with gold from For the first time in 20 years the US the team and all-around competitions, swept both the men’s and women’s returning home to fame and fortune. team gold medals, while Sam Mikulak Desch, an alternate on the US team claimed the men’s all-around title to for last year’s world championships, end a 28-year American drought in that could be that athlete in Rio, as could event. 17-year-old Gowey. Trained by Liang The only blip came on Monday Chow, who coached Olympic champi- when women’s all-around favourite ons Douglas and Shawn Johnson, was beaten for the Gowey has been getting plenty of buzz gold by Canada’s , but the in gymnastic circles as she returns to young Americans vowed a return to form after being hobbled by ankle the top of the podium in the apparatus problems for a year and a half. finals. “Rachel, she is a polished athlete “That (Rio Olympics) is what I have and has a nice look too her with her been working for and hopefully this is lines and she has strong start values the start of great things,” said Desch. “I and that helps as well,” said Faehn. know I can improve. It is just the start. “I really think she is absolutely one “This meet is a confidence booster. who has great potential. She has had “We all look up to them (Biles, Douglas, ONTARIO: Canada’s Marie-Eve Beauchein-Nadeau attempts a lift during the ankle problems but you can see the ONTARIO: Cuba’s Delia Grau passes the ball in Cuba’s bronze medal Raisman), train next to them and it women’s 75kg weightlifting competition. — AP potential there.”— Reuters women’s water polo match against Brazil at the Pan Am Games. — AP