Tokyo Games Organizers Apologize To Sponsors
The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee has apologized to the event's sponsors over remarks made by its president Mori Yoshiro that have been criticized as sexist.
The committee on Monday held an online meeting for about 80 sponsors during which it apologized for the comments.
According to people familiar with the matter, some sponsors said the committee should not consider the matter closed just because Mori retracted his remarks and apologized. Others asked the committee to provide a proper explanation to the public.
On Wednesday last week, while referring to the Japanese Olympic Committee's plan to increase the number of women on its board, Mori said that board meetings with women take too long because they talk too much.
Facing criticism, Mori apologized and retracted his remarks the following day. But the backlash has continued at home and abroad, and about 390 people have withdrawn from volunteering for the Games.
In a statement on Sunday, the committee pledged to "continue the Games operations with the aim of improving a society, respecting, celebrating and embracing the variety of individuals and diversity."