Yoshirō Mori (森喜朗), the head of the Olympic Games organising committee in Japan, has come under fire for recent sexist comments about women. Mori had complained that competitive female board directors “take a lot of time” in meetings, and that the women “talked too much”.
The octogenarian former prime minister retracted his comments and made an apology later on. However, his attempts to justify his words brought further criticism.
Over four-hundred Olympic volunteers have resigned over the sexist comments made by Yoshirō Mori. Olympic organisers claim to have seen over 5,500 complaints related to the issue. Also, an online petition, calling for further action to be taken, has gathered over a hundred-thousand signatures so far.
Very embarrassing for Japan… every time he says something things get worse, he should quit.
– Daichi Oyama, former volunteer
The IOC released a statement, describing the comments as “absolutely inappropriate and in contradiction to the IOC’s commitments and the reforms of its Olympic agenda 2020”.
When it comes to controversy and problems over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it seems Japan can’t catch a break.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/56000804
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/olympics-volunteers-resign-over-presidents-remarks-about-women
wtfjapan
A lonely pond in age-old stillness sleeps . . .
Apart, unstirred by sound or motion . . . till
Suddenly into it a lithe frog leaps.
