Gender Gaffe Opens Tokyo 2020 Meeting

(ATR) A gender gaffe and the possibility of venue changes highlighted the opening session of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Olympics.

For the next three days, the commission will track the progress towards the 2020 Games over the next six years.

John Coates, the IOC vice president from Australia who chairs the commission, noted this is the start of a journey Tokyo has traveled before.

"Fifty years ago, the Olympic Games came to Tokyo and Asia for the very first time. Today, that Olympic journey begins once again from this great city and people," said Coates in his opening remarks to the plenary session of the commission.

His greetings in Japanese definitely need practice, which he promised to improve as the Games draw nearer. But the most wince-worthy remark of the day came from Toshiro Muto, CEO of Tokyo 2020.

Perhaps it was a sign of the gender gap that afflicts Japan. After introducing a dozen men in a row, he then proceeded to call the only woman, "Mr. Yuko Arakida, Executive Board Member."

Realizing the gender gaffe, Muto quickly reintroduced her as "Mrs. Yuko Arakida."

Arakida, former sports director of the Tokyo 2020 bid, is a gold medal Olympian from the 1976 Games. She also chairs the Olympic Council of Asia Athletes Commission.

She sat alongside another Olympian who has just signed on as sports director for Tokyo 2020, hammer throw champion Koji Murofushi.

Tokyo 2020 leaders have already come under fire for failing to include more women in the decision-making ranks of the Olympics. It’s an issue that touches more on the way things are done in Japan. A study published this week says that as a rule in Japan, women are paid 30 percent less than men in similar positions.

Another Olympian with deep ties to Tokyo was singled out by Coates: co-comm member Irena Szewinska. At the 1964 Olympics, she won a gold and two silver medals for her exploits in athletics that would continue for two more Olympiads. The Polish IOC member received the heartiest applause of anyone at the plenary and she spoke not a word. She is one of six women on the IOC Tokyo commission.

New Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Yoichi Masuzoe (elected in February) welcomed IOC members in French and English but used Japanese for most of his remarks. (ATR is told that Masuzoe spoke German when he met with IOC president Thomas Bach).

While Masuzoe promised the delivery of "wonderful Games," he also mentioned "challenges" fulfilling promises made during the bid for the Games.

"In order to realize the plans that were made during the bid for the Games, I decided that it will be necessary to review the plan, appropriately taking into the consideration some challenges related to legacy in Tokyo and sustainability and impact on the citizens’ life," said the governor without specifying which Olympic venues might be changed in this review.

Tokyo 2020 officials have told ATR that venue changes are coming but will not say which ones are affected. Such variations from the Olympic bid are often early issues for any summer Olympic organizing committee.

More to come on this during a press conference with Coates and Tokyo 2020 leadership on Friday to close this first IOC commission visit.

The commission hits the road on Thursday to check out the venue plan for the Games. Friday is the close.

One break from the routine of co-comm meetings was spotted with the absence of neckwear by most of the men in the plenary session, usually a formal affair. Only the top table, including Coates and Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori, had ties wrapped around their necks.

Written and reported in Tokyo by Ed Hula

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.