In this Aug. 8, 2021, file photo, fireworks illuminate over National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo. (Mainichi/Koichiro Tezuka)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The total costs for hosting the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer are expected to be 1.45 trillion yen ($12.8 billion), down 191 billion yen from the previous estimate, with no additional burden to be placed on taxpayers, a games source said Monday.

       The cutback was due to streamlining measures surrounding the games and because most events were held without spectators amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said the source. In December last year, the cost was estimated at 1.64 trillion yen.

       The games' one-year postponement caused by the pandemic saw an extra cost of 294 billion yen, covering additional operations and virus countermeasures. This was on top of the 1.35 trillion yen projected in December 2019.

       The 1.64 trillion yen was to be split between three parties, with the organizing committee covering 721 billion yen, Tokyo metropolitan government 702 billion yen and the central government 221 billion yen.

       But having substantially fewer visitors from overseas and requiring less manpower with almost no spectators at venues lowered the cost. Tokyo at the time was under a COVID-19 state of emergency.

       Even as organizers are set for a drop in revenue due to losses on ticket sales, the cost reductions have compensated for it.

       The cost of hosting the games has sharply increased from 734 billion yen, a figure presented to the International Olympic Committee in 2013 at the time of Japan's bid.

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