Tokyo Games transition from Mori to Hashimoto seamless–IOC

Seiko Hashimoto (C), president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organising Committee, attends a press conference next to Mikako Kotani (R), Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee sports director, and Toshiro Muto (L), CEO of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, after a video conference with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board in Tokyo on February 24, 2021. (Photo by Takashi AOYAMA / POOL / AFP)

BERLIN —The handover of power at the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee to Seiko Hashimoto from Yoshiro Mori has been seamless with Hashimoto showing she is fully prepared to take on the job, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday.

Hashimoto was named president of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee last week, replacing 83-year-old former prime minister Mori, who resigned after causing a furor with sexist remarks about women.

Hashimoto delivered her first progress report as head of the Tokyo Games organizing committee to the IOC Executive Board on Wednesday.

“With her report she could already demonstrate she knows the portfolio, that she is up to date on all the details of this organization,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a virtual news conference.

“There is a very seamless transfer of power in the organizing committee. She highlighted her strategic priorities, safety of the games, gender equality and legacy.”

Hashimoto will have to hit the ground running with the Tokyo Olympics originally scheduled for 2020, but postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Japan kicked off its virus inoculation drive days ago, becoming the last member of G7 countries to do so.

More than half of Japanese firms believe the July 23-Aug. 8 Games should be canceled or postponed again, a survey by think tank Tokyo Shoko Research showed last week, underscoring doubts over the viability of the premier sporting event.