Tokyo 2020 organisers will add a dozen new women to their board after the sexism row which forced their former president to quit in February.
Japan’s former prime minister, Yoshiro Mori, resigned as Tokyo 2020 president after telling a Japanese Olympic Committee that women talk too much.
He was replaced by former speed skater and track cyclist Seiko Hashimoto, who had been serving as Japan’s minister for the Olympics and Paralympics.
And on Tuesday, the Tokyo 2020 organising committee said they would add 12 new women to its board.
The move will more than double the ratio of women on the board to 42 per cent.
Organising committee chief executive Toshiro Muto said the new members will be unveiled after official approval on Wednesday, but added that they had looked for athletes and gender equality specialists, among others.
Earlier, Hashimoto said that with the Games less than five months away, organisers need to move quickly to regain public trust.
“As for promoting gender equality, I believe we need to tackle the issue with a sense of speed and get results firmly to restore trust on the organisers,” said Hashimoto, who competed in seven Summer and Winter Olympics.
Additional reporting: Reuters
