Tokyo—Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori is to resign over sexist remarks that have sparked outrage in Japan and abroad, reports said Thursday.
Multiple major Japanese media outlets, citing anonymous sources, said Mori has told officials of his wish to step down and intends to announce his resignation at a meeting of Games organizers on Friday.
Gaffe-prone Tokyo 2020 boss Mori, 83, has come under increasing pressure after he said last week that women “have difficulty” speaking concisely.
He has apologized for the remarks, but dug a deeper hole when he insisted he had heard complaints that women speak at length.
Politicians and sports stars were quick to condemn the comments, with heavyweight sponsors also saying they ran contrary to the Olympic spirit.
The International Olympic Committee said they considered the matter closed, but then said the remarks were “completely inappropriate” as the backlash grew.
The sexism row has become yet another headache for Olympic organizers and officials already battling public disquiet over holding the Games this summer as the pandemic continues to rage.
Meanwhile, no socialising, no handshakes and definitely no hugs—that’s what athletes at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Olympics can expect this summer, according to a virus rulebook released Tuesday by organizers.
The 33-page document—the last in a series of “playbooks” drawn up in a bid to ensure the Games can go ahead safely—also warns athletes they could be kicked out of their events if they break strict anti-virus rules.
Under the guidelines, athletes will be tested for the virus at least once every four days, and will be barred from competing if they return a confirmed positive test.
Their time in Japan will be “minimised to reduce the risk of infection,” and those staying at the Olympic Village will be expected to “avoid unnecessary forms of physical contact.”
Organizers told AFP on Tuesday that they still plan to hand out around 150,000 free condoms to athletes, but the new rulebook urges them to “limit your contact with other people as much as possible.”
“If you have been to the Games before, we know this experience will be different in a number of ways,” the guidebook warns.
“For all Games participants, there will be some conditions and constraints that will require your flexibility and understanding.”
The guide for athletes and team officials is set to be revised in April and again in June, and follows the release of handbooks for sports officials, media and broadcasters last week.
The document lays out further detail on virus testing for athletes, with a negative test required within 72 hours of travelling to Japan and again immediately upon arrival.
There will be no quarantine for athletes, and they will still be allowed to attend training camps in Japan before the Games begin, but all movements must be rigorously logged and the use of public transport is subject to permission.
Athletes “must not visit gyms, tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars” and can only go to “official Games venues and limited additional locations”.
They are also advised to wear masks at all times except when they are competing, training, eating, sleeping or outside in open space.
The virus rulebooks are being released as organizers, Olympic officials and Japan’s government works to build confidence that the Games can go ahead safely despite a surge in infections globally.
While vaccinations are recommended for athletes, they will not be a requirement to participate in the Games.
Support for hosting the virus-postponed event remains low in Japan, with around 80 percent of Japanese backing cancellation or further postponement — something organisers have ruled out.