Tokyo 2020 says executive board members to gather over Mori’s remarks

Sports Society Tokyo 2020

FILE PHOTO: Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (TOGOC) President Yoshiro Mori speaks to the media after a video conference with IOC President Thomas Bach at the TOGOC headquarters in Tokyo, Japan January 28, 2021. Takashi Aoyama/Pool via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (TOGOC) President Yoshiro Mori speaks to the media after a video conference with IOC President Thomas Bach at the TOGOC headquarters in Tokyo, Japan January 28, 2021. Takashi Aoyama/Pool via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics will hold a gathering of executive board members later this week, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee said on Wednesday.

The meeting on Friday is for the members to express their opinions on comments by Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori that women talk too much, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee said, remarks that attracted widespread criticism and calls for Mori’s resignation.

Mori apologised and retracted his comments, but the public outcry over them continues.

Despite the condemnation, the 83-year-old former prime minister in Japan remains insulated within the organisation he leads, sources told Reuters, with officials fearing that his resignation would imperil the Tokyo Games.

Executive board members will also discuss gender equality initiatives at Friday’s gathering, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee said.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Mari Saito; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)

Reuters