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TOKYO, Feb.6 (Xinhua) – Japanese newspaper Nikkei said Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori’s remarks on women have eroded confidence in the Olympics and efforts should be made to regain lost confidence.
Nikkei said in an English comment: “It makes one wonder if Yoshiro Mori fully understands the meaning of his position or the weight of his words.”
Mori, 83, a former Japanese prime minister, told a Japanese Olympic Committee meeting on Wednesday: “Women have a strong sense of rivalry … if a female member raises her hand to speak, everyone will think they also need to say something. “.
Mori apologized at a news conference Thursday, but refused to resign.
Nikkei said: “There are less than 170 days left until the games begin. They are discussing how to admit athletes and spectators into the country and operate the venues, with an eye on the spread of the virus and progress on vaccines. watching this process with great interest.
“Mori’s ill-considered comments have undermined confidence in the head of the organizing committee at this critical time. It could slow momentum towards holding the games and hamper international support for this challenging effort.
“Every effort should be made to regain this lost trust.”
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, the first female governor of the Japanese capital in history, admitted that the Tokyo Games are facing a dire situation due to Mori’s controversial comments, the Kyodo news agency said.
“It is the mission of the metropolitan government and the organizing committee to host safe and secure games, but now we face a serious situation,” he said.
“The IOC has said that the matter is closed, but I have heard that the volunteers of the games have resigned and people have made phone calls in protest, so we must investigate that,” he added.
The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Yasuhiro Yamashita, told reporters that Mori’s comments “violate the Olympic spirit.”
Kaori Yamaguchi, a member of the executive board of the Japanese Olympic Committee, said the comments could further tarnish the image of the Tokyo Games. Final product
