Public joins stars in inauguration of Olympic stadium

Packed house? Lots of empty seats in the picture!

"....plans by Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid were scrapped due to controversy over its cost and scale."

Yeah, right. The estimated costs of the Games now, including the Japanese-designed stadium, have quadrupled since the bid was made. So it's not as if Japanese organizers are all that concerned with suppressing costs.

Hadid herself said the real reason her stadium was axed was because they didn't want foreigners building it. As a Japanese architect complained, it looked like "a turtle waiting for Japan to sink." This was all about Japanese nationalism and pride. And that's not a great sentiment for an "international" games.

Looks like it's going to be a huge oven next summer.

@Yubaru I think they meant for Track and field part of the stadium anyway. I mean he did say that over 2000 athletes and spectators took part in varies events for the opening Of the stadium.

And yeah, I really don’t like the very high cost of the stadium either, especially with all the cost overruns and stuff, but here’s how I look at it. They are where we are, and what’s done is done. And since all that money was spent on it, let’s at least try to make the most of it. And judging by all the events that this article says will be hosted in the stadium, it looks like that they are going to get a lot of use out of this. So at least all this money and effort certainly won’t go to waste.

So at least all this money and effort certainly won’t go to waste.

Until a week after the circus leaves town. Then we have to start paying for the White Elephant. And by "we", I mean the taxpayers, who will be lumbered with this for generations.

If the trillions thrown away on this vanity project had been reinvested into education, or fixing the pension hole, or even just divvied up and given to the taxpayers to spend, Japan might have a future.

But never mind - look! People running and jumping! Look at it! Stop thinking! Look at the shiny thing!

Yubaru:

Packed house? Lots of empty seats in the picture!

The picture shows the morning event called "First Runs" (走り初め) , a dedication ceremony for the new running track, The main festival was actually in the evening, when 60,000 spectators watched the celebrations.

Hadids design was scrapped because it was garbage, and soulless overpriced monstrocity like all of her works.

Well done to Kengo Kuma .

Those shirts symbolise the sea of red ink the circus is costing us.

Celebration! Let the games begin!