Tokyo Olympics chief Mori sorry for sexist comments, will not resign

TOKYO, Feb. 4 Kyodo - Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, on Thursday apologized for remarks he made that have been widely criticized as sexist and outdated but insisted he has no plan to step down. "It was a careless remark and I want to express my apologies," Mori said in a telephone interview with Kyodo News. "I had no intention of discriminating against women." The apology came a day after Mori complained about what he believes is women's tendency to talk too much and to have "a strong sense of rivalry" when he was asked about increasing gender diversity among board members of the Japanese Olympic Committee. He made the comments in a JOC meeting held online and open to the media. The JOC board has 25 members, of whom five are women. The former prime minister's comments caused a stir in Japan and abroad, sparking calls for him to resign. Mori told Kyodo News he is aware of the public outcry and said he would step down if the controversy, or any other issue he is involved in, has a negative impact on the games. At a press conference later in the day he stressed he has "no intention to resign," but admitted his comments ran counter to the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Japan's top government spokesman, chief Cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato, told a press conference Thursday he was not aware of the specifics of Mori's comments, but the government is committed to gender equality and will continue to push for the promotion of women to leadership roles in sports organizations. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said it "goes without saying" that women should be included in the decision-making process, adding she believes someone "talking too much" is an issue with an individual, rather than their gender. ==Kyodo