Olympics-IOC to work with Mori's successor for safe Games this year

The International Olympic Committee said on Friday it was "as committed as ever" to staging the Games this summer, following the resignation of the head of the local Tokyo organising committee. "The IOC will continue working hand-in-hand with his successor to deliver safe and secure Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

The International Olympic Committee said on Friday it was "as committed as ever" to staging the Games this summer, following the resignation of the head of the local Tokyo organising committee. Yoshiro Mori stepped down as Tokyo 2020 president on Friday, five months from the Games' scheduled opening, after sexist comments that caused outrage at home and abroad.

His handpicked successor is former Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi, 84, who was derided as "another grandpa" by some on social media. "The IOC will continue working hand-in-hand with his successor to deliver safe and secure Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.