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 Canada competes during the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly swimming event. Lacroix won the gold medal. — AP Coughlin stunned at Pan Am Games TORONTO: Natalie Coughlin 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 Pan American Games’ 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, Gabby Douglas, 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.