TOKYO – Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, former president of the Japan Football Association and a footballer, will reject an offer to head the organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics, Nikkei learned Friday .
Kawabuchi was slated to replace Yoshiro Mori, 83, as president of Tokyo 2020. Mori, who had said he would resign over sexual comments he made at a board meeting held on Friday last week, that officer did.
“I am retiring as president of Tokyo 2020 today,” said the former prime minister. “The most important thing is to hold the Games in July, so I can’t be a any impediment to this goal. “
Mori criticized Kawabuchi as a surrogate, as well as the vague election process. It is not clear now who will be appointed, less than six months before the start of the Olympics.
Mori had said at a meeting of the Japan Olympic Committee in Tokyo on Feb. 3 that board meetings with women “take so long.” Because of the “strong sense of competition,” he said, “if one raises his hand, others may think, ‘I have to say something too.’ “
The ideas came at a discussion on efforts to increase women’s representation on the committee’s board.
Mori withdrew his remarks the next day and apologized to “all those convicted,” saying the remarks were “contrary to the spirit of the Olympics and the Paralympics.”