Tokyo 2020 chief Mori makes 'deepest apologies' about sexist remarks
Xinhua
1612956197000

Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (TOGOC) President Yoshiro Mori speaks to the media after a video conference with IOC President Thomas Bach at the TOGOC headquarters in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (Photo: AP)

TOKYO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori has expressed his "deepest apologies and remorse" over controversial sexist remarks he made last week, it was announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The organizers said that Mori acknowledged that they were inappropriate and also contrary to the Olympic and Paralympic spirit, exactly the same wording in a statement made by the IOC on Tuesday.

The 83-year-old Mori, a former Japanese Prime Minister, said on February 3 at a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee, "Women have a strong sense of rivalry... if one female member raises her hand to speak, everyone will think they need to say something too."

Mori made an apology at a news conference last Thursday but refused to resign.

The statement confirmed that Tokyo 2020 will hold a meeting on Friday for its Council and Executive Board members, who will be "invited to express their opinions on President Mori's remarks."

The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee has been under mounting pressure in the past week following Mori's comments. About 400 volunteers have decided to give up their chance to serve the games this summer and two people announced their withdrawal from the torch relay, due to start on March 25.

The IOC said in its new statement on Tuesday that Mori's remarks are "absolutely inappropriate and in contradiction to the IOC's commitments and the reforms of its Olympic Agenda 2020."