Olympic cauldron for stadium in Tokyo may pose fire threat
TOKYO » Plans for the new stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics may have to be reviewed over concerns that the installation of the cauldron may violate fire laws.
Tokyo organizers decided today to set up a panel to review where to place the cauldron for the Olympic flame. The review team will be headed by Olympic minister Toshiaki Endo and will come up with a solution as early as April.
The construction plan by architect Kengo Kuma includes stands covered by wood materials and the location of the cauldron could violate the Japanese Fire Service Act.
Work on the stadium fell behind schedule when the government abandoned an earlier design by architect Zaha Hadid because of spiraling costs.