TOKYO (AFP) – Olympic medalists, Japanese sports officials and local volunteers have lined up to lambast octogenarian Tokyo Games chief Yoshiro Mori over his sexist remarks, describing anger and disappointment at his comments.
Mori sparked outrage on Wednesday for saying women speak too much in meetings then dug himself into a deeper hole a day later when he admitted ”I don’t speak to women much” during a hastily organized press conference called to make his apology.
The 83-year-old former prime minister’s comments and refusal to resign as president of the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics drew widespread scorn, including from top athletes.
”In a nutshell, it was very disappointing,” said swimmer Satomi Suzuki, who won two silver medals and one bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, after a race on Thursday.
”Honestly, it made me angry,” she added, according to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
Mori’s comments also upset athletes outside Japan, with former Canadian ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser – a six-time Olympian and a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission – among those taking aim.
”Definitely going to corner this guy at the breakfast buffet,” she tweeted. ”See ya in Tokyo!! #oldboysclub”
Volunteers hoping to play a part this summer are also up in arms and have complained to the Tokyo city government over sinking morale, according to local media reports.
