The Yomiuri ShimbunWith a little over a year to go until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee had become unable to fulfill his work duties. Stepping down was his only choice.

JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda has announced his intention to resign. When Takeda’s term as president ends in June, he will relinquish a position he has held for more than 17 years. While JOC regulations on the retirement age of its executives have been given as the reason for Takeda’s departure, in fact it can be assumed he has taken responsibility for allowing confusion to spread due to allegations regarding Tokyo’s bid to host the Games.

As French prosecution authorities were investigating allegations that Takeda had paid bribes, the International Olympic Committee also was sounding him out on whether he would resign. At this time, any deterioration in the relationship between the JOC and the IOC must be avoided. Consequently, Takeda had no option but to step down.

Takeda, who had competed in equestrian events at the Olympics, was appointed JOC president in 2001. He was chosen to be an IOC member in 2012 and, as chief of the Tokyo bidding committee, became the “face” of the city’s bid.

A fluent English speaker, Takeda urged IOC members from other countries to support Tokyo’s bid and was instrumental in making Tokyo’s hosting of the Games a reality. His international network of contacts was essential for Japan’s sporting world.

Suspicions have emerged that a little more than ¥200 million paid to a consulting company during the bidding process might have been used for bribes.

Leadership lacking

French authorities have started pretrial proceedings that lay the groundwork for a court case. If the sitting JOC president were to be indicted ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the event’s image would inescapably be tarnished. Takeda also would become unable to attend IOC meetings.

Takeda has consistently insisted the money at the center of the suspicions was legitimate. He said the money was being used for lobbying activities, and that the contract and payments went through proper audit.

However, the fact that Takeda did not take questions at a press conference undeniably ramped up suspicions about his conduct. When announcing his resignation, Takeda said he would work hard to prove his innocence. Takeda should live up to his word and fulfill his accountability thoroughly.

After the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the JOC, which was an organization within the Japan Amateur Sports Association, became independent in a bid to separate sports from politics. While the principle of seeking more autonomy for the sporting world is understandable, as things stand, the committee has fallen far short of making this a reality.

A string of scandals, including cases of power harassment and fraudulent accounting, has rocked the sports world. It must be said that Takeda, who as JOC president should have been able to pull together various sports organizations, lacked the necessary leadership.

The Japan Sports Agency will decide on a code of governance for sports organizations. A draft includes restrictions on the age of executive members and the number of times they can be reappointed.

Creating an environment in which athletes can concentrate on their sporting events is crucial. Under a new president who is to be appointed, the JOC will need to fulfill its duties as an umbrella organization.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2019)Speech

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