TOKYO, Dhu-AlHijjah 29, 1437, September 30, 2016, SPA -- The Japanese government approved a 150 billion yen ($1.5 billion) contract Friday to build a new main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a project that has been delayed by more than a year, as AP reported. Officials said the stadium construction would begin in December after an earlier plan was scrapped because of spiraling costs and an unpopular design. The Japan Sport Council, a government-funded organization operating the project, said the stadium was scheduled for completion at the end of November 2019, still five months behind schedule. The delay forced a venue change for the Rugby World Cup that Japan is also hosting in 2019. The cost of an earlier design by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid had risen to 265 billion yen ($2.65 billion), more than twice the initial forecast. The 150 billion ($1.5 billion) contract is just below the 155 billion ($1.55 billion) ceiling set this time for the contractors, a joint venture among Taisei Corp., Azusa Sekkei Co. and the office of Kengo Kuma, an architect who designed the new stadium. Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa told reporters she would ensure steady progress of the construction. --SPA 14:58 LOCAL TIME 11:58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w