2019 Rugby World Cup
Dazzling re-design for 2019 World Cup final venue
ESPN Staff
November 16, 2012
British-based arcitect Zaha Hadid's winning design for Japan's new national stadium in Tokyo, November 16, 2012
British-based arcitect Zaha Hadid's winning design for new Tokyo stadium that will play host to 2019 World Cup Final © Japan Sport Council
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The Japan Sport Council has revealed the winning design for the re-vamped national stadium that will play host to the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final.

London-based architect Zaha Hadid, who also designed the iconic Aquatics Centre used during the recent 2012 London Olympics, won the international contest with a futuristic vision that will eventually replace the current venue in Tokyo that is also known as the Kasumigaoka National Stadium.

Reports suggest that the stadium will be re-built at a cost of ¥130bn (£1.04bn) with officials also hoping that is will form the centre piece of a successful bid for the 2020 Olympics. The stadium was originally built as the main venue for the 1958 Asian Games and also played host to the 1964 Olympics.

"Japan's newly refurbished stadium will be the best of the best," said Tsunekazu Takeda, the President of Tokyo 2020 and Japanese Olympic Committee. "It will have one of the largest spectator capacity in the world, and will also offer the finest hospitality.

"As for the athlete and spectator experience: the Kasumigaoka National Stadium will have a retractable roof. A state-of-the-art stadium like Kasumigaoka is another indication that Tokyo is ready to deliver a dynamic celebration that reinforces and renews the Olympic values for a new generation."

The existing stadium is set to be demolished in 2015 and renovations are due to be completed in March 2019 before the start of the World Cup later in the year.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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