<Anchor>



So, this time, let's connect Tokyo and summarize the news from Japan one day before the opening ceremony.



Correspondent Yoo Seong-jae, who said that former Prime Minister Abe, who can be said to be the protagonist of the Olympic bid, decided not to attend the opening ceremony tomorrow (23rd)?



<Reporter>



Yes, former Prime Minister Abe is the honorary chief adviser to the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee.



It is said that the intention to not attend the opening ceremony was conveyed to the organizing committee due to the coronavirus emergency in Tokyo and the event held without spectators.



Former Prime Minister Abe led the bid for the Tokyo Olympics in 2013, and at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics five years ago, he made a surprise appearance as a game character himself.



There were high voices calling for a two-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics due to the corona virus last year, but it was Prime Minister Abe who decided to postpone it for only one year through negotiations with the IOC.



Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided not to attend the Olympic opening ceremony.



Criticisms like this are pouring out on social media, such as whether you are running away because the situation is unfavorable, or you are cowardly.



<Anchor>



On the other hand, the director of the opening ceremony was suddenly dismissed. How did that happen?



<Reporter>



Yes, the so-called 'show director', who was in charge of the organic connection of each performance at the opening ceremony, was fired today.



Kobayashi is a former comedian.



The 1998 Nazi genocide of Jews, the Holocaust, became a controversial topic.



This is not the first time the Tokyo Organizing Committee has faced personnel issues.



In February, the head of the company, Chairman Mori, resigned after making disparaging remarks about women, and the general director of the opening and closing ceremony also disparaged the celebrity's appearance and then stepped down.



Also, the day before, the music director resigned due to the controversy over 'school violence' during his school days.



Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Aso caused a stir when he said that there was a problem with hosting the Olympics every 40 years and called it a 'cursed Olympics'.



(Video coverage: Han Cheol-min, Moon Hyun-jin, video editing: Jung Yong-hwa)