Mori Says New Minister 'Best' for Final Push

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori meets the new minister in charge of Olympic and Paralympic preparations Yoshitaka Sakurada.

Sakurada assumed the portfolio of Tokyo 2020 preparations as part of a cabinet reshuffle by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and one of 12 first time ministers.

"I was hoping for the best person, and that's you," Mori said after meeting Sakurada as he began his position. "Let's work together as one. We're in the final straight of preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Games now."

It is unlikely that a change of minister in charge of preparations will have much impact. With less than two years to go until the 2020 Olympics, the construction schedule has been finalized, and preliminary test events planned. Most work being done for preparations is being finalized at a deputy level within the ministry.

Both the United Kingdom and Brazil had multiple changes of ministers in charge of Olympic preparations throughout the seven year project. In Brazil, there were three different leaders of the Sports Ministry in 2016 alone, the year of the Rio Games.

Sakurada said that he is "going to work as hard as I can" on guiding the final sets of preparations, which include construction and logistics projects. He also said he will draw on his relationship with Mori to allow the government and Tokyo 2020 to be in sync.

"Mr. Mori, you were Prime Minister when I first served as Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs," Sakurada said. "I am very pleased that I can work with you because you really helped me out at that time."

According to a report from NHK, Sakurada stressed that he will promote the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games alongside the Olympics. Sakurada also met with the Japanese para-athletes association on his first day of work.

"The Tokyo Games won't be a success without the success of the Paralympics," Sakurada was quoted as saying. "I'm taking on this position with that determination."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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