TOKYO – Tokyo Olympics organizers have narrowed their search for Seiko Hashimoto, the government’s Olympic minister and a former athlete herself, Nikkei learned Wednesday.
The organizing committee needs a new president to succeed Yoshiro Mori, who resigned last week after a row over his sexual comments.
Hashimoto, 56, was a seven-time Olympian as a winter astronaut and summer road bike. After making her debut at the Sarajevo Winter Games in 1984, she went on to compete in more Olympics than any other Japanese woman.
In 1995, at the age of 30, Mori asked her to run for election as the candidate of his Liberal Democrat Party.
As a result of the Mori controversy, the organizing committee set up a team to find a new president. Fujio Mitarai, honorary president of Tokyo 2020, led the panel, which included equal numbers of women and men in a nod to gender equality.
The upheaval comes less than six months before the Olympics begin, however, and with the spread of coronavirus infection threatening the plans.
Tokyo 2020 criteria for electing a new president included “in-depth knowledge of the Olympics,” “deep understanding of gender equality, diversity and inclusion,” and “knowledge of high the floor of the universe. “
Last Thursday, it was reported that Mori offered the job to Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, who was president of the Japanese Football Association. However, the vague election process drew further domestic criticism, and Kawabuchi rejected the offer the next day.
Mori on Friday officially announced his resignation after his sexual comments drew worldwide criticism. At the Feb. 3 meeting of the Japan Olympic Committee in Tokyo, it was said that board meetings with women “take so long.” Because of the “strong sense of women’s competition,” he said, “if one raises his hand, others may think, ‘I have to say something too. ‘”
Mori withdrew his remarks the next day and apologized, but the pressure from the public did not diminish his retirement.