Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori's sexist remarks that sparked a global outcry forced him to quit his position on Friday, issuing an apology on the matter.
The 83-year-old said, “My inappropriate comments caused a big trouble. I am sorry.”
Speaking at an Olympic organising committee meeting, Mori said the most important thing now is the success of the Tokyo Olympics.
The Olympics is currently searching for a chief as organisers’ ability to pull off the event during a coronavirus pandemic seems shaken.
The postponed Summer Games are scheduled to begin in a few months.
During an Olympic committee meeting earlier this month, Mori said Women talk too much thereby sparking a global outcry with the statement.
Critics therefore lobbied for the former Japanese Prime Minister and Olympics chief to be sacked. He refused to step down even though he apologized for the comments.
On Friday, the public criticized Mori's hand-picked successor Saburo Kawabuchi whom he had asked on Thursday to take over his position.
However, the 84-year-old mayor of the Olympic village turned down Mori's offer because of public criticism. The public saw it as just another older male taking the position.
According to local broadcaster Fuji News Network, the government would seek to block the nomination of Kawabuchi.
FNN cited a government source as saying, “We can’t give the impression that things have changed unless we install a woman or see a generational shift.”
A source involved in the Olympics, the Mori controversy has done “serious reputation damage” to the Tokyo Olympics.
According to the source, who requested anonymity, many officials want a woman to replace Mori.
Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto, a woman who has represented Japan in both the summer and winter Olympics, is being considered as a possible candidate, local media said.
No comments:
Post a Comment