New Tokyo 2020 stadium to be completed earlier than planned

TOKYO (AP) — The International Olympic Committee says the new stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be completed two months earlier than planned to allow organizers time to stage more test events before the games.

Japanese organizers informed IOC vice president John Coates that the completion date would be moved from January 2020 to November 2019 during a two-day IOC "project review" of Tokyo's preparations.

However, the stadium will not be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup, which will be held in Japan from Sept. 20-Nov. 2, 2019.

Work on the stadium fell behind when the government abandoned an earlier design by architect Zaha Hadid due to spiraling costs, sending organizers back to the drawing board.