TOKYO (Reuters) – Yoshiro Mori, head of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is expected to resign on Friday due to sexist comments, but who will replace him remains open after his chosen successor was forced to turn down the job under public criticism , as reported by local media.
Mori, 83, had taken advantage of 84-year-old Saburo Kawabuchi, who currently serves as mayor of the Olympic Village to take the top spot, Kawabuchi told reporters.
But the choice raised questions about whether there was no better alternative than another older man.
In an extraordinary turnaround, local channel Fuji News Network reported that the government would try to block Kawabuchi’s nomination as Mori’s replacement after a flood of public criticism both at home and abroad.
“We can’t give the impression that things have changed if we don’t install a woman or see a generational change,” FNN told a government source.
Kawabuchi, who initially said he wanted to accept Mori’s request, has decided to leave, national media reported.
On Friday, the organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympics, which has not made official comments on Mori’s resignation, plans to hold a meeting of its board and executive committee, followed by a press conference.
Mori will explain his position at Friday’s Games meeting, Japanese Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto told parliament in reference to a phone call with Mori.
Asked if it is possible for Mori, a marching leader, to appoint his own successor, Hashimoto said there needs to be proper procedures in place to choose the next leader of the organizing committee.
Mori, a former Japanese prime minister, sparked a worldwide outcry with sexist comments that women talk too much about earlier this month, which he did during an Olympic committee meeting.
Mori has apologized for his comments, but so far has not resigned despite growing calls for him to step down.
His resignation less than six months before the start of the Summer Olympics is likely to raise new doubts about the feasibility of holding the postponed Games this year.
Reports from Ju-min Park, Chang-ran Kim; Edited by Michael Perry and Raju Gopalakrishnan