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Tokyo's new National Stadium: A Facelift by Zaha Hadid Tokyo, Japan Japan Sports Council 290,000m2 Capacity 80,000 people The makeover of Tokyo's National Stadium is meant to boost the city's 2020 Olympic bid. While the final decision has yet to be made about which city will host the 2020 Olympic bid, Tokyo's chances look good. If Japan's capital seals the deal, much of the infrastructure is already in place thanks to the fact that the city hosted the 1964 Olympics. In the hope of clinching the bid for 2020, Tokyo's National Stadium is set to receive a monumental makeover by British architecture firm, Zaha Hadid Architects. The ultramodern complex is set for completion in time for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which Japan will host. The new Tokyo National Stadium more than a large sports facility designed to the highest design specifications and functional requirements. It is a piece of the city's fabric, and urban connector which enhances and modulates people moving through the site from different directions and points of access. The elevated ground connections govern the flow of people through the site, effectively carving the geometric forms of the building. "The design is both light and cohesive, seamlessly connecting the stadium's different elements to create a silhouette that integrates with the city," Hadid said. Getting to this point was no simple feat for Hadid, whose entry was chosen from 46 initial bids. The contest for the project was overseen by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Alongside being able to seat at least 80,000 and sporting a retractable roof, the contest called on entrants to factor in environmental efficiency, ensuring that the design meshes with the surrounding area (including transportation logistics) and the guarantee that it can be completed by March 2019. Tsunekazu Takeda, International Olympic Committee member and president of the Japanese Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020, added, "It's so full of life. It will serve as a fantastic symbol of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bid."