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Japan’s stadium work halted by bolt shortage

Work on venues that will be used during Japan’s staging of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games is being stalled due to a shortage in the number of bolts.

The Financial Times newspaper reports that an emergency survey of construction companies was due to be completed on Friday amid complaints from traders who say that the supply of bolts used to join steel frames together has been “entirely depleted” since January.

It comes as Japan prepares to stage two high-profile sporting events over the next two years, with the Rugby World Cup scheduled for September 20 to November 2, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to take place from July 24 to August 9 next year. The Paralympics will follow from August 25 to September 6.

The FT reported that construction companies have been forced to base their designs around steel frames that use specialist high-tension bolts due to the shortage of regular bolts.

Some stadia being used for this year’s Rugby World Cup are undergoing renovation and the shortage of bolts is said to be delaying work at the Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto.

Tokyo 2020 organisers last month said that construction work for the Games is on scheduled, with testing due to be stepped up during the summer.