TOKYO (JAPAN) – Seiko Hashimoto the Japanese Olympics Minister and a woman who has competed in seven Olympic Games, is all set to take on the role of Chief of Tokyo 2020 organising committee.
NHK public television reported that Hashimoto had conveyed her intention to accept but did not give further details.
Hashimoto may be replaced as Olympics minister by Tamayo Marukawa, 50, a former television announcer who was elected to the upper house of parliament in 2007 and previously served as Olympics minister for about a year, the Mainichi daily said.
The previous chief Yoshiro Mori resigned as president of the committee last week after passing sexist remark that women talk too much.
At the start of a Tokyo 2020 board meeting on Thursday, Vice President Toshiaki Endo said Mori’s remarks had been inappropriate and a new president should be selected as quickly as possible.
“With only five months to go, his resignation inflicted indescribable damage to the preparation process for the Olympic Games,” Endo said.
“I hope that we can form a consensus on a good candidate to become the next president at this meeting.”
According to the organisers, criteria for a new leader include a deep understanding of gender equality and diversity and the ability to attain those values during the Games, organisers have said.
The games which was already marred by an unprecedented delay of a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and strong public opposition, is set to begin on July 23.
