Japan Olympics Minister Hashimoto to accept role as head of Tokyo 2020

Japanese Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto, a woman who has competed in seven Olympic Games, intends to accept the job of Head of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee.

Japan’s media reported today that, after the previous leader Yoshiro Mori quit due to sexist remarks. He resigned as President of the committee last week after saying women talk too much, a fresh blow to the games, already marred by an unprecedented delay of a year due to the Coronavirus pandemic and strong public opposition.

The country’s public television later said that Hashimoto had conveyed her intention to accept but did not give further details. Born days before Japan hosted the 1964 Summer Games, Hashimoto took part in four Winter Olympics as a speed skater and three Summer Olympics as a cyclist.

A lawmaker in Japan’s ruling party, Hashimoto, 56, has served as the Olympics Minister, doubling as Minister for Women’s Empowerment, since 2019. The games are set to begin on 23rd of July this year despite repeated opinion polls showing that most citizens are opposed to holding them this year due to the pandemic.