2002 Worl Cup cost tops $3.5b in Japan

2002 Worl Cup cost tops $3.5b in Japan

TOKYO (AFP): Preparation costs for the 2002 World Cup soccer finals have topped US$3.5 billion in Japan, weighing down the debt-ridden country, a newspaper said Sunday.

Japan's central and local governments have spent a total of 433.6 billion yen ($3.5 billion) over the past two years on preparation for the event, which will be co-hosted by South Korea, the Mainichi Shimbun said.

Of the total, 10 local governments planning to host the games at their stadiums have spent 389.2 billion yen, the national daily said.

The remaining 44.4 billion yen was spent by other local governments, including host cities of World Cup soccer teams' training camps, the newspaper said.

Yokohama city, near Tokyo, which is scheduled to host the final match of the games, has spent 60 billion yen, while Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo, reported 78 billion yen for construction costs of a new stadium.