Japanese IOC Member: Lessons from Vote-Buying Scandal

(ATR) Tsunekazu Takeda says he believes the Tokyo bid leadership has been exonerated of bribery in the race to secure the 2020 Olympics.

"Although it is so regretful to be doubted, according to the examination by the research team [investigation panel], we conclude that there is no illegality for the consulting contract," the Japanese Olympic Committee president told a press conference Friday at the Tokyo metropolitan government office.

"I think the doubt has been cleared."

An independent inquiry, commissioned by the JOC, reported Thursday that it found no evidence that the Tokyo 2020 bid made an illegal payment to Singaporean firm Black Tidings for consultancy work before the September 2013 IOC vote. Former bid chief Takeda and his team were accused of making an illegal $2 million payment to win support for Japan’s Olympic campaign.

However, doubts remain over the credibility of the bidding scandal probe as investigators revealed on Thursday they were unable to speak with the three key figures embroiled in the controversy. Some bid documentation had also been destroyed after Tokyo’s victory.

Takeda admitted that Tokyo 2020 had suffered from a lack of transparency and communication problems in concluding such contracts with consultants, a fact noted in the investigation’s report.

The IOC member from Japan promised to learn from the scandal.

"We reflect on this point and we’d make use of the suggestions of the report in terms of those activities," Takeda, head of the IOC’s marketing commission, told the news conference.

With the spotlight switching to Tokyo’s preparations after the Rio Games, a new problem has arisen for Games chiefs.

The city’s governor Yuriko Koike sought to alleviate fears that the delayed relocation of the historic Tsukiji fish market to the Toyosu waterfront would not hamper Olympic preparations. Soil contamination at the site and soaring costs are triggering concerns about the relocation, Japanese media report.

In the planning is construction of a highway through the Tsukiji site to connect Tokyo city center with the Olympic venues in the waterfront area.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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