A report on Monday hinted at the probability of Tokyo Olympic organisers choosing their new president as early as this week.
Just recently, the former chief Yoshiro Mori resigned over sexist remarks that provoked a global outcry.
There is an urgent need for the organisers to choose a new president as they just have five months left to prepare for the Games amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to the statement made last week by the group's chief executive Toshiro Moto.
He also added that they are setting up a selection committee made up of an equal number of men and women.
According to Nippon TV, the selection committee will hold its first meeting at the start of this week.
The members are expected to submit names of candidates and they could select the new president as soon as this week.
However, there is a large number of candidates,
the process could carry over into next week, Nippon TV said.
The media said that among those being considered for the position are Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto, a pioneering female lawmaker and seven-time Olympian who is one of only two women in Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s cabinet.
On Friday, Hashimoto said she had not been asked to replace Mori.
Other candidates include Mikako Kotani, a two-time Olympian in synchronised swimming, now known as artistic swimming, who serves on the Japanese Olympic Committee, and Upper House lawmaker Tamayo Marukawa, a previous Olympics Minister.
Daichi Suzuki, a former Olympic gold medallist backstroke swimmer who has served as commissioner of the Japan Sport Agency, an organisation aiming to promote sport nationwide, is another possible candidate according to the media.
Koji Murofushi, a former Olympic gold medallist hammer thrower who has served as the agency’s commissioner since October after succeeding Suzuki, is also being considered for the role.
The Summer Olympics, which were postponed last year due to the pandemic, are scheduled to open July 23, 2021.
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