JOC Board of Directors unlisted “I want to make discussions more active” August 8 at 21:51

JOC = The Japan Olympic Committee has decided to keep the Board of Directors, which has been open to the public, private for reasons such as "I want to make discussions more active". Experts point out the need to take measures to ensure a check function taking into account the transparency of the organization, based on the lessons learned one after another in the sports world.

JOC will make a board of directors that has been disclosed to the press in principle, except for personnel matters, at various news companies, including NHK, in line with the new system that Chairman Yasuhiro Yamashita assumed in June. We showed policy to make private to press conference.

As for the reason, Chairman Yamashita said, “Before the press, there was no lively discussion at the Board of Directors, nor was it possible to share information on the movements of countries that have not yet been clarified. It was indispensable. "

On the other hand, the press conference explained that it was an act of going against the times when the Sports Agency wanted transparent organization management for the competition organizations and that it was not possible to actively discuss before the media. It was a protest requesting not to swiftly decide not to disclose it as equivalent to giving up.

Under such circumstances, the JOC decided to make the Board of Directors private at the Board of Directors meeting held on the 8th, and to respond in the form of explanations to the reporters by the Managing Director after the Board of Directors.

Associate professor Taisuke Matsumoto of Waseda University, who is familiar with the governance of the sports community, is making the decision to make the board of directors the decision-making place of JOC, a public interest incorporated foundation that requires more subsidies from the government and makes public decisions. Pointed out that last year ’s scandals in the sports world learned from the scandals, taking into account the transparency of the organization and “need to take measures to ensure the check function”.

Chairman Yamashita “Toward a New JOC”

JOC Chairman Yamashita decided that the Board of Directors would not be disclosed, and in order to ensure transparency in the coverage of the press, the managing director, etc. would respond to the press after the Board of Directors, distribute the materials, and regularly I explained that I wanted to respond by meeting with a typical reporter and clarifying the agenda.

In addition, the board of directors made a resolution and revealed that among the 24 directors attended, 19 were in favor, 4 were against, and 1 was on hold. And it was also clear from the four people who disagreed that there was an opinion that “the JOC's image would be worsened due to a full confrontation with the media even though the media's perspective on the JOC was harsh” I made it.

In addition, Mr. Yamashita said, “It is not possible to close things that have been opened once. We will be reborn as a new JOC that will be evaluated by the public by ensuring transparency. You just lose your trust. ”

Expert "Check function must be secured"

Regarding the response of the JOC = Japan Olympic Committee, which decided to make the Board of Directors private, experts need to take measures to ensure a check function considering the transparency of the organization based on lessons learned in the sports industry last year I pointed out.

The JOC = Japan Olympic Committee's Board of Directors, which is certified by a public interest incorporated foundation, is the organization responsible for decision making for the entire JOC by overseeing directors responsible for various fields such as player strengthening, marketing, public relations, etc. Therefore, if it is a stock company, it is equivalent to the “Board of Directors”.

However, unlike private companies that receive strict checks from outside at general shareholders' meetings, sports organizations such as JOC are concerned about the weakness of the check function because there are few external human resources for directors and directors who elect directors, Last year, it was pointed out as one of the factors behind the succession of scandals in the sports world.

Disclosure of the board itself is not required by law, but in order to increase the transparency of the organization, the Japan Sports Association, which is a public interest foundation like JOC and oversees the athletic organization, has opened the board to the press. It is.

In addition to sending information to the participating competition organizations, a document summarizing the board of directors has been sent, and the minutes will be posted on the website at a later date.

On the other hand, JOC has prepared the minutes of the Board of Directors, but has not made it public. In the future, executives will provide opportunities for the media to explain the contents of the Board of Directors that will not be disclosed. The transparency of decision-making can be set back.

Taisuke Matsumoto, an associate professor at the School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, is a lawyer who is well-versed in sporting governance regarding JOC's response. "Sports organizations that are difficult to receive external checks are often influenced by the individual qualities of the directors, and the soundness of the organization is often influenced by the directors. If you want to keep the meeting private, it is important to maintain a balance, such as securing an alternative check function and strengthening the transmission of information. "