Mori Brands Tokyo CoComm 'Revolutionaries'

(ATR) A "revolutionary debate" consumed the IOC Coordination Commission, according to Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori.

Mori spoke highly of the CoComm’s working groups in the opening address of a banquet dinner for the IOC group. The Tokyo 2020 CoComm is near to completing its fourth visit to Tokyo.

In a show of Japanese hospitality Mori called the entire group on stage and presented them with traditional "Happi" robes. The robes are a traditional summertime garment in Japan, and were adorned with the phrase "Happy. Peace. Tokyo 2020."

"We repeat that the commission meetings we felt had better and fantastic discussions," Mori said in his remarks. "In particular today’s discussion was really wonderful.

"We witnessed a revolutionary debate. The conclusion of the discussion will be sometime in the future. Now everybody who participated in this CoComm are revolutionaries!"

Mori joked that the CoComm participants needed to continue the efforts from today’s meetings or "Mr. Coates and the others will be in great trouble!"

John Coates, chair of the commission, echoed Mori’s sentiments in a more muted fashion. He graciously thanked the Japanese hosts for their hospitality and said the commission is "very much excited of the progress" made today.

Coates joked that he hopes the revolutionary label "doesn’t get back to President Bach," as "this could be the end of my position on the CoComm."

"President Mori is correct we’ve had a very successful two days of meetings," Coates said. "The thing [Mori was] referring to is with [Tokyo 2020’s] encouragement we have five new sports that are engaging with the youth and we have 15 new events which are very much revolutionary."

Coates and Mori will address the media tomorrow after the CoComm has finished its final meetings. Expected topics to be discussed are finalizing venues for events such as 3x3 basketball and BMX freestyle, and the number of baseball games played in Fukushima prefecture.

Written by Aaron Bauerin Tokyo

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