TOKYO (AP) – The USD1.4 billion Tokyo national stadium, built by the Japanese government for last year’s Olympics, is being viewed as a site for the track and field world championships.
An inspection team from World Athletics – the governing body of the sport – met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike yesterday and was to tour the stadium today.
The next world championships, which were postponed from 2021 to make way for the Olympics, will be held in July in Eugene, Oregon. Budapest, Hungary, is set to host in 2023.
Tokyo would be considered as a favourite for 2025. That choice is expected in July.
The 2027 venue also has yet to be chosen.
Chairman of the inspection team Antti Pihlakoski praised Tokyo. But neither he nor Koike took any questions at a brief photo opportunity at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building.
Pihlakoski said World Athletics had four candidates for 2025. He did not name them but they are reported to be Tokyo, the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Singapore and a venue in Poland.
“I do believe that there is no other city in the would that could have organised (Olympic) competitions during the COVID time, and did it in a very great manner,” he said.
