Games cost hits $25bn

THE price tag keeps soaring for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite organisers and the International Olympic Committee saying spending is being cut.

A report just released by the national government’s Board of Audit shows Japan is likely to spend $25 billion to prepare the Games, and the final number could go even higher.

This is nearly a four-fold increase over Tokyo’s winning bid in 2013, which the report said projected costs of 829 billion yen, or $7.3 billion.

In a statement, local organisers disputed what should be called Olympic expenses.