It is rumoured that the central Government and Tokyo are in final talks on appointing the 76-year-old as chief, with a view to launching the Committee on January 24.

Mori, currently President of the Japan Rugby Football Union, was first linked to the role last November and was involved in the successful Tokyo 2020 bid but was said to have showed reluctance to take up an initial offer with the organising body. 

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has denied that the recruitment process had been narrowed down to Mori.

"I have not heard that it was been narrowed down to a specific choice of a person," Suga insisted.

"I don't wish to comment.

"We aim to get the utmost support as the Ministries and Government offices unite in order for us to host the best Games six years from now."

Yoshirō Mori already played a role on the Tokyo 2020 bid committee ©AFP/Getty Images


Fujio Cho, honorary Toyota Motor Corporation chairman, and Canon chairman Fujio Mitarai - who is also the former chair of Japan's most powerful business lobby, Nippon Keidanren - are both said to have declined offers to lead Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires in September last year after defeating challengers Istanbul and Madrid.

It will be the first occasion that the Games have been staged in the Japanese capital since 1964, and the fourth time they have been hosted in Japan, following Sapporo and Nagano, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998 respectively.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2014: Tokyo creates dedicated 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bureau
December 2013: Early blow for Tokyo 2020 after Governor forced to resign following corruption scandal
November 2013: Felli holds orientation seminar for Tokyo 2020
September 2013: Japan's Sports Minister Shimomura to lead Tokyo 2020 preparations
September 2013: Tokyo awarded 2020 Olympics and Paralympics