2019-03-19

Tsunekazu Takeda to leave JOC and IOC posts

Mar 19, 2019 : -- Tsunekazu Takeda announced his resignation as president of the Japanese Olympic Committee at an executive board meeting on Tuesday. The announcement was made following accusations that bribery was involved in Tokyo being chosen as the host city for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I don’t believe I’ve done anything illegal or wrong,” Takeda said on Tuesday. “It’s regrettable that a shadow has been cast on the tournament because of me, but I also think it’s my duty to serve out the rest of my term as president.”

Takeda, 71, has served 10 terms as JOC president since assuming the position in 2001. He also intends to step down as head of the International Olympic Committee’s marketing commission.

“The IOC takes note with the greatest respect of the decision taken by Mr. Takeda to resign as an IOC Member,” the Olympic body said in a statement. “Our respect of this decision is even greater because he took this step to protect the Olympic Movement while the presumption of innocence, on which the IOC insists, continues to prevail.”