Scaled-back plans for Tokyo's Olympic stadium would ditch roof and add temporary seats

Japan's National Stadium is dismantled for the renovation Wednesday, May 13, 2015. After a series of delays, demolition of Tokyo's National Stadium has been completed, clearing the way for the building of a new structure that will be the centerpiece of the 2020 Summer Games. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (The Associated Press)

A guard stands by Japan's National Stadium which is dismantled for the renovation Wednesday, May 13, 2015. After a series of delays, demolition of Tokyo's National Stadium has been completed, clearing the way for the building of a new structure that will be the centerpiece of the 2020 Summer Games. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (The Associated Press)

TOKYO – Japan plans to scale back the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the government runs short of money and time, the country's sports minister said Monday

Hakubun Shimomura said a planned retractable roof wouldn't be built in time for the games, and some of the 80,000 seats would be temporary ones, according to Japanese media reports.

Shimomura, whose ministry oversees sports, education and science, made the remarks in an exchange of views with Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe.

He asked if the city of Tokyo could shoulder 50 billion yen ($418 million) of the 169 billion yen construction cost. Masuzoe was non-committal, Kyodo news service said.

Plans for the new stadium have been criticized by some prominent architects, who say the design is too big and expensive. It is due to be completed in time to host the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.