The illuminated Olympic rings float in the water as the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Tower are visible in the distance, Jan 24, 2020, in the Odaiba district of Tokyo. (JAE C HONG / AP)

TOKYO - The Japanese government said Friday it spent about 266.9 billion yen (US$2.44 billion) in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in six years through March 2019.

The total cost of the games, including the amount shouldered by the Tokyo govt, is expected to reach US$12.34b, as the fourth budget plan revealed last month

The figure, revealed exactly six months prior to the games, was about one-quarter of the amounts claimed by the Board of Audit last month, according to the government.

The number covered 65 projects directly related to the international sports events, compared with 340 projects reflected in the estimate by the board.

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The government also said it estimates the budget related to the Tokyo Games between fiscal 2013 and 2020 will total 277.7 billion yen (US$2.54 billion), including about 115.6 billion yen (US$1.06 billion) spent for measures to strengthen athletes' competitiveness, 51.7 billion yen (US$472.6 million) for operating the Japan Sport Council and 50.2 billion yen (US$458.9 million) for security.

The total cost of the games, including the amount shouldered by the Tokyo government, is expected to reach 1.35 trillion yen (US$12.34 billion), as the fourth budget plan revealed last month.