Following the resignation of Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro, the IOC issued the following statement.
“The IOC takes note of President Mori’s decision to step down as President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The IOC fully respects President Mori’s decision to step down and understands his reasons for doing so. At the same time, we would like to thank him for his outstanding contribution to the organisation of the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 over the course of the past years. Among his many accomplishments, President Mori helped to make Tokyo the best-ever prepared Olympic city. The IOC will continue working hand-in-hand with his successor to deliver safe and secure Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
Leslie Laing at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Photo Credit: S&G/PA Images via Getty Images
Leslie “Les” Laing, a member of the 4×400 metre gold medal winning team from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics died on Feb 7.
The Linstead, St Catherine, Jamaica native was days away from his 97th birthday. Sources differ on his age, but according to the Olympic.org website, he was born on Feb. 19, 1924.
Details of Laing’s death were not released, but his advanced age is considered a factor.
In the 1952 Olympics, Laing ran the second leg of the 4×400 metre relay team that won the race in a then world record time of three minutes, 03.9 seconds.