Japan’s Education Minister, Hakubun Shimomura, says he has submitted his resignation due to troubles with planning for Tokyo’s National Stadium, a main venue for the 2020 Olympic games.
Mr. Shimomura says he told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe he wanted to resign and take responsibility for the problems.
Mr. Abe scrapped the original plan for a new stadium to replace one used for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in July, saying it was too costly. The design by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid raised protests from many in Tokyo who objected to its massive size, cost and ultra-modern shape.
A new stadium design is due to be chosen by November.
Olympic organisers are also seeking a new logo to replace one that was abandoned amid plagiarism allegations against its designer.
