Tokyo 2020 organizers to add 12 female board members

Muto Toshiro, CEO of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020), speaks during a press conference following the Tokyo 2020 Executive Board meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on March 2, 2021. (Tokyo 2020/Handout via Xinhua)

TOKYO, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee on Tuesday nominated 12 women to its executive board in an effort to "restore trust" after former president Yoshiro Mori's sexist remarks.

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told reporters after an executive board meeting that the total female board members will be increased to 19 from the current seven, accounting for about 40% from 20%.

The total number of board members will rise to 45 from the current 34.

Muto did not disclose the details of the 12 women, adding they will be officially approved at the executive board meeting on Wednesday.

Several Japanese news outlets reported that Sydney Olympic marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi and two-time Paralympic alpine skiing champion Kuniko Obinata are among the 12 nominees.

Seiko Hashimoto, who took over as the new Tokyo 2020 president on Feb. 19, said prior to the day's meeting that "we need to deal with the issue quickly to restore the trust in the organizing committee and to produce results." Enditem