Olympics minister Hashimoto eyed as replacement for outgoing Tokyo 2020 president Mori
February 12, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto is seen heading to a Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 12, 2021. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)
TOKYO -- Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto has surfaced as a candidate to succeed Yoshiro Mori as president of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games following Mori's announcement of his resignation on Feb. 12 over sexist remarks, multiple sources have disclosed.
From the perspective of gender equality, officials had suggested a woman should be chosen as the new president of the committee. During her career as an athlete, Hashimoto, 56, took part in both the summer and winter Olympics a total of seven times in speed skating and cycling, and also previously served as vice president of the Japanese Olympic Committee.