Tokyo Olympics Leader Hit With New Blows

(ATR) Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike blames sexist comments from Tokyo 2020 Olympics president Yoshiro Mori for her decision not take part in the next meeting of the four-party group overseeing the coming Olympics and Paralympics.

The group was supposed to meet in a virtual setting Feb. 17.

Along with Koike and the embattled Mori, the other members include IOC President Thomas Bach and Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday Koike says the upcoming meeting of the four-party group would not be a positive step at this time. The move by Koike, arguably Japan’s most influential political leader, could be a signal that Mori is losing his perch over the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

The 83-year-old ex-prime minister has been hammered in the outcry over his remarks about women made during a Feb. 3 meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee. During a discussion about increasing the number of women in the leadership of the JOC, Mori objected, saying women talk too much and that when one woman raises her hand to speak "everyone ends up saying something."

Koike says Mori’s words "made everyone feel uncomfortable at a time when we are trying to overcome the pandemic and gear up toward the games.I am very disappointed as the head of the host city," Koike is quoted in reports.

Mori has publicly apologized for his remarks, admitting that they are inappropriate. But one week later the controversy shows no sign of abating.

The IOC took the extraordinary step of issuing a public statement criticizing Mori for his comments. The Feb. 9 rebuke may be the first time the IOC has singled out the head of an Olympic organizing committee by name.

Olympic sponsor Toyota has broken the bounds of propriety that usually keeps these firms silent in the face of controversy. Company president Akio Toyoda released a statement expressing regret that Mori’s comments "are different from the values that Toyota has cherished."

The gauntlet continues for Mori on Feb. 12 with a specially called meeting of the Tokyo 2020 Council and Executive Board.

"They will be invited to express their opinions on President Mori’s remarks and to discuss the future gender equality initiatives of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee," says a notice for the meeting at Tokyo 2020 headquarters. The meeting will be hybrid with members also joining by teleconference. Only the opening of the meeting, planned for 90 minutes, is open to press.

At the Japanese parliament, female members are protesting the remarks of Mori by wearing white.

Reported by Ed Hula.