New president for Tokyo Games?

TOKYO — The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee is about to get a new president — and it looks like it will be a woman. According to a report by Japan’s Kyodo news agency, the job will be offered to 56-year-old Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto.

Hashimoto would replace Yoshiro Mori, who was forced to resign last week after he made demeaning comments about women. He said, essentially, that women talk too much.

Hashimoto would inherit a tough job. Polls show about 80% of Japanese people want the Olympics canceled or postponed. They have reacted to the risks around holding the Olympics during a pandemic, and the soaring costs. The official cost is $15.4 billion, but government audits have suggested its more than $25 billion.