Board meetings with a lot of women “take so much time,” the president of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee said while addressing a government initiative to increase representation of female directors.
“Women have a strong sense of competition,” said Yoshiro Mori, a former prime minister, at a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee. “If one person raises their hand, others probably think, I need to say something too. That’s why everyone speaks.”
Sexist remarks made by Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori have drawn international condemnation, in a further blow to organizers who face criticism for persisting in holding the event this summer despite rising COVID-19 infections and costs.
Gaffe-prone former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, 83, made the remark Wednesday in response to plans to double the proportion of women on the board of the Japanese Olympic Committee to 40% from 20%. They came as the organizers published a playbook about how they plan to stage the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games this summer amid the pandemic.
Mori, who is known for his gaffes, did not dispute the report and told reporters he wanted to “retract” his comments.
“What I said… went against the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics, and I recognise that it was inappropriate,” he said. “I will reflect deeply on this. I would also like to retract what I said. I would like to apologise to everyone who was offended.”
“Mori, please resign,” was trending on Twitter in Japan on Thursday, while Noriko Mizoguchi, a former judo silver medallist, tweeted the International Olympic Committee’s code of ethics and said any form of harassment should be rejected.