Tokyo 2020: the Japanese Olympic minister on pole to head the organizing committee

Japan's Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Seiko Hashimoto is emerging as the favorite to replace Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee chairman Yoshiro Mori, who resigned last week after sexist remarks, multiple media reported on Wednesday.

The committee tasked with appointing a successor to Mr Mori, 83, met for the second time on Wednesday for about two hours and reportedly agreed on the name of Ms Hashimoto, 56, a former sportswoman and Olympic medalist. , according to the public broadcaster NHK.

This body is now preparing to ask Ms Hashimoto to accept the post, while some media have reportedly been reluctant to take over the chairmanship of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee just five months before the scheduled opening of the Games. postponed last year due to the pandemic.

The race remains open

This nomination has not yet been confirmed by the organizers, and some media claim that the race is still open, citing other potential candidates like Yasuhiro Yamashita, the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, or Mikako Kotani, sports director of Tokyo 2020. Outgoing president Yoshiro Mori was forced to announce his resignation on Friday after scandal over his remarks that women spoke too much at meetings, which he said was "annoying."

The organizers of the Games had said they wanted to find a successor to Mr. Mori "as soon as possible", with among the selection criteria a "deep understanding of the principles" of the Olympic Charter, "including gender equality, diversity and inclusion. ”

Seven participations in the summer and winter Olympics for Seiko Hashimoto

Tokyo 2020 declined to comment on information about a possible nomination, but said a third selection committee meeting would be held on Thursday.

“At the first meeting yesterday, the committee agreed on five criteria governing the qualifications of the new president.

During today's session, which was attended by all committee members (there are eight of them), specific candidates were discussed with reference to the five criteria, ”a statement said.

Ms Hashimoto, one of only two female ministers in the Japanese government, competed in both the summer (track cycling) and winter Olympics seven times between 1984 and 1996, winning bronze in speed skating during the Albertville Olympics in 1992.

After Mr. Mori's sexist remarks, the minister said she wanted to have a "frank discussion" with him, reminding the media that gender equality was a principle at the heart of Olympism.

However, the minister was herself at the center of a controversy, after the publication of photos showing her kissing a young skater, 20 years her junior, during the 2014 Olympics, where she held the position of head of mission of the Japanese team.

The organizers and the Japanese authorities are trying to generate interest in these Games in times of pandemic, when about 80% of the Japanese population is opposed to their holding due to persistent health concerns, according to several surveys.

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