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.