TOKYO 2020 HEAD MORI TO STEP DOWN OVER SEXIST REMARK

The president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee, yoshiro Mori, will resign over a sexist remark that sparked an outcry, two sources said on Thursday, while the former prime minister said he could not let the controversy drag on. Mori’s resignation would be bound to raise new doubts over the viability of holding the postponed Games this year. The sources, who have knowledge of the matter, said Mori would be replaced by former Japan Football Association president and mayor of the Olympic Village, Saburo Kawabuchi. Kawabuchi, 84, represented Japan in football at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and helped Japan co-host the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea. Mori made the sexist remark — that women talk too much — at a Japanese Olympic Committee board meeting early this month, setting off a storm of criticism. Mori, 83, told Nippon TV he would “explain his thoughts” at a meeting on Friday. He did not confirm the reports that he would step down. “I cannot let this problem prolong any longer,” Mori said.