Tokyo 2020: resignation expected of Yoshiro Mori, president of the organizing committee
The President of the Organizing Committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Yoshiro Mori, on July 24, 2019 in Tokyo Toshifumi KITAMURA AFP / Archives
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 min
Several major Japanese media claim that Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organizing Committee, informed officials of his willingness to resign and to announce it during a meeting of Tokyo 2020 organizers on Friday, February 12.
The former Japanese prime minister caused an uproar a week ago with sexist remarks.
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Certainly, the Tokyo 2020 Games are bad luck!
Between postponement, organizational difficulty in times of coronavirus and exploding budget, Japan must face a new storm initiated by the president of the organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori.
The latter, aged 83, is preparing to resign following an outcry in Japan and abroad following sexist comments made last week.
Apologies that weren't enough
Already known for his verbal slippages, Yoshiro Mori felt that the meetings with women were too long because they "have
trouble finishing
" their interventions.
“
Boards of directors with a lot of women take a lot of time,
” Yoshiro Mori said during a meeting with officials from the Japanese Olympic Committee that was open to the press.
He awkwardly apologized the next day, while initially ruling out resigning.
But he must resign himself to quitting his functions.
A few months from the deadline, the Tokyo Games did not need this new crisis.
Following these comments, an avalanche of criticism followed in Japan and abroad.
Even sponsors of the Olympics, usually discreet, have stepped up in recent days, such as automotive giant Toyota, claiming that Mr. Mori's remarks were contrary to the Olympic spirit and the values they support.
Athletes like the Japanese star of women's tennis
Naomi Osaka
, volunteers of the Olympics, elected representatives of the parliamentary opposition in Japan or even members of the staff of embassies in Tokyo have also expressed their dissatisfaction.
The mayor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, also increased the pressure by announcing that she did not intend to attend a meeting of all the stakeholders of the Olympics scheduled for this month, against the backdrop of Mr. Mori's comments.
Replaced by former football player Saburo Kawabuchi
According to Japanese television channels TBS and NTV, former soccer player Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, could be appointed in place of Mr Mori.
Mr. Kawabuchi played a key role in the 1990s in developing professional football and popularizing the sport in Japan.
He was leader of the J-League (1991-2002) and then of the Japanese Football Federation from 2002 to 2008. He currently holds the symbolic function of mayor of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village.
Also according to local media, the president of Tokyo 2020 asked Mr. Kawabuchi to succeed him on Thursday, February 11, and the latter accepted.
"
If I am elected president, I will do my best,
" Kawabuchi told reporters after an hour-long interview with Mori, state broadcaster NHK reported.
Mr. Kawabuchi has also chaired the Japan Basketball Federation, and currently holds the symbolic post of Mayor of the Olympic Village.
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