Tokyo Games Chief Offers To Resign
The embattled head of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has offered his resignation.
Mori Yoshiro made the announcement at a hastily arranged joint session of the committee's executives and the board of councilors. It comes more than a week after the 83-year-old made demeaning remarks about women, sparking a global backlash.
Mori said, "My inappropriate remarks have caused a lot of confusion. I feel extremely sorry for causing so much trouble for the executives, the board of councilors and many others. So today, I am tendering my resignation as president of the Tokyo organizing committee."
The controversy began when Mori said that meetings with women take too long because they talk too much.
He later apologized, but continued to face criticism both in Japan and abroad. Hundreds of Olympic volunteers have quit in protest.
Another official says that Mori asked him to take over as president. But 84-year-old Kawabuchi Saburo has decided not to seek the position.
Some members of the executive board and the International Olympic Committee say the process for choosing Mori's successor needs to be transparent.
A member of the Tokyo organizing committee spoke to the media after the meeting. Muto Toshiro says they will set up a selection committee made up of an equal number of men and women, including some athletes.
The IOC President said in the statement that his organization respects Mori's decision to step down, and understands his reasons for doing so. Thomas Bach added that the IOC will continue to work hand in hand with Mori's successor.