Corruption case related to the sponsorship contract for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.



On the 9th, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Department indicted a former director of the Organizing Committee on charges of accepting bribes, marking a major break in the investigation of a series of cases in which the total amount of bribes allegedly amounted to nearly 200 million yen.



What was the background of the problem?

We interviewed Professor Kyoko Kurita of Chukyo University, who is familiar with the history of the Olympic Games and served as a director of the Organizing Committee.



We will keep you updated with the latest developments.

Former director of the Olympic Organizing Committee Fourth indictment Investigation for bribe total of 200 million yen

Click here for the details of the event and its history

[About the incident]

Q. What impact did the incident have?

A.At least in Japan, the value of the Olympic Games has been greatly damaged.



Even more disappointing is that Japan's value in the eyes of the international community has also been damaged.



Given that the international community has evaluated the response to the coronavirus as being relatively thorough, what is the major premise that has not been done?



The implications of getting this back are very important and needed.



Also, from the athlete's point of view, it can be said that the athlete is a victim and has lost value.



The sports world must take measures not to damage the value of athletes.

Q. What were the problems, backgrounds, and countermeasures required for the incident?

A. We have created an organization by gathering people with a high level of expertise, but we did not properly create a system that is a premise for having the experts work fairly. When someone tried to do it, I felt that he or she could do it.



It may not have been enough if I had properly checked what I could and could not do and what I could do ethically in advance.



There was work to be done.



▽ First, it was important to continue ethical training, even if both directors and staff knew about it.



▽ Second, it was necessary to confirm whether there was an ethical charter of what should be protected.

If it doesn't, it's a problem, and even if it does, it needs to be checked to see if it didn't work.



▽Third, were things progressing from a fair standpoint within the specialized department?

I should have checked whether there was a structure in which the power of a certain person was greatly affected.



▽Finally, it was necessary to set up a third-party organization to check whether a situation that might not be seen by those around us unwittingly occurred, even if we thought we were doing the right thing.

[Disclosure of materials related to corruption cases]

Although pursued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, the city does not respond to information disclosure

On the 9th, a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly special committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games was held, and several committee members asked whether contracts and contract fees related to the corruption scandal surrounding the Games had not been made public. I had a question.



In response, the person in charge of the Tokyo metropolitan government said, ``There are things that are subject to confidentiality obligations such as business information and contain personal information, so viewing them requires the permission of the court.'' expressed his opinion.

Q.What about publication of materials?

A. Sports organizations have to look at the materials of the organizing committee of the Tokyo Games. It must be said that it is very problematic because the materials related to the incident have not been made public.



Sports organizations must obtain materials and think about what to do in the future, but it will be difficult if they cannot obtain any materials for that.

First, we have to solve this.

[Regarding the invitation of future international competitions]

Japan Sports Agency to formulate guidelines for tournament management organization

In response to this incident, the Japan Sports Agency, together with the JOC = Japan Olympic Committee, has formulated guidelines that stipulate the organization of large-scale sports competitions, etc., and hopes to prevent recurrence.

Voices of anxiety and concerns from citizens of Sapporo City aiming to bid

Sapporo City, which is aiming to host the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, has received many concerns and concerns from its citizens.



Gaku Umeda, director of the Sapporo City Sports Bureau, commented on future bid activities, saying, "We have to take measures as a problem for the sports world as a whole with the Sports Agency and JOC = Japan Olympic Committee. What kind of problems are there? I would like to specifically consider and disseminate what kind of measures can be taken to prevent it,” and expressed his intention to continue to explain carefully to citizens.

Q.What should be done in order to invite an international competition in the future?

A.It is important to clarify verifiable guidelines on what can and cannot be done within your organization, and then establish a system for checking within the organization.



Furthermore, the creation of such an organization outside the organization should be an absolute requirement when inviting a sporting event.



It should be considered that it has become the starting line that can invite the tournament for the first time.