Tokyo mulls shouldering additional cost for Olympics

Tokyo : Tokyos Governor has indicated the metropolitan government will consider shouldering the cost of temporary facilities to be built outside the capital for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japanese officials said. Yuriko Koike made the suggestion on Friday as the host city, the central government and the organising committee prepare to resume talks this month on who should pay how much for the temporary facilities, public broadcaster NHK reported. The committee said local municipalities that host the facilities should cover some of the cost. But those authorities argue the committee should bear the full amount as initially planned. Under the law, the metropolitan government is not allowed to pay for temporary venues outside Tokyo. Koike told the media that the basic rule is that the committee pays everything. But she said a contract signed with the International Olympic Committee stipulates that Tokyo will shoulder any costs the organising committee cannot pay. -IANS