Sports minister says trouble-plagued stadium to be ready on time for Olympics

Sports minister says trouble-plagued stadium to be ready on time for Olympics

I'll believe it when I see it.

Mr. Shimomura, are you not ultimately responsible?

Well, he may be right in saying it will be ready for the '20 Olympics. Problem is, it was supposed to be ready for the '19 Rugby Worldcup! Guess we might see a repeat of the 1964 Games where the Shinkansen was up and running about 1 week before the games' start?!

"Japan’s sports minister promised on Tuesday that the new National Stadium, the centerpiece of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, will be completed on time and blamed a “lack of clear responsibility” for the structure’s raft of woes."

Yeah, I seem to remember a whole lot of other promises in the lead up to who would be awarded the Games as well. In fact, I remember a certain Prime Minister giving his word more than once. Yeah... it'll be "ready" alright -- a COMPLETELY different beast, and more expensive, than the one promised at the bid.

But he's right that there is a lack of responsibility -- that is Japan-wide problem in EVERY element of society -- but do you notice he never said HE takes responsibility, and WILL take responsibility if his promise is not kept? I have no doubt then, as with now, it'll be 'regretful, but someone else's fault'.