31 May. 2014 – TOKYO 2020 Says “Sayonara” to the National Stadium, Looks Forward to the New Olympic Stadium
TOKYO 2020 joined by members of Japan’s sporting community and around 40,000 sport fans to say “Sayonara” to the National Stadium during a farewell ceremony to commemorate this focal point of Japanese sport on the day of its official closure for reconstruction.
TOKYO 2020 President Yoshiro Mori was among those paying their last respects to the stadium. He said: “Over the past half-century, the National Stadium has truly been a sanctum of Japanese sport. It has hosted numerous unforgettable matches and competitions, and has a special place in the hearts of people all over Japan. I have been actively involved in sport for many, many years, and as the curtain closes on this historic venue, I find myself recalling several of the memorable sporting occasions that have graced the stadium.
Source / Read more: TOKYO2020
The 1964 Olympic Stadium held its final sporting event Sunday before it’s to be demolished in July, making way for a larger stadium for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics.
Japan beat Hong Kong 49-8 to qualify for its eighth straight Rugby World Cup in the final event in Tokyo’s 54,000-seat stadium that opened in 1958.
Source / Read more: NBC Sports