Japan Olympic official Takeda denies corruption allegations
15 January, 2019
Tsunekazu Takeda, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee and a powerful IOC member, has denied corruption allegations against him concerning reported bribes paid to be awarded the rights to host the 2020 Olympics.
A French prosecutor is investigating Takeda, who is reportedly linked to about $2 million in payments in 2013 before and after the IOC picked Tokyo ahead of Madrid and Istanbul to stage the games.
The brewing scandal is a major blow to Tokyo’s preparations, which IOC President Thomas Bach has called “the best” in Olympic history.
The Tokyo Olympics open in 18 months with Japan spending at least $20 billion to prepare.
“I am very sorry for having caused worry for those working very hard to preparing for Tokyo 2020,” Takeda told a packed news conference Tuesday at the JOC’s office.
Dressed in a dark suit, Takeda did not take questions and said: “I’d like to clear the allegation against me, and I will cooperate fully with French authorities.”
The preliminary charge against Takeda announced by the National Financial Prosecutors office was first reported by French newspaper Le Monde. The preliminary charge means the investigating magistrate has determined there are serious grounds for suspicion. But no decision has been made on prosecution.
Le Monde said French authorities suspect the IOC vote for Tokyo in 2013 was swayed by secret deals that secured the backing of IOC members from Africa, reporting that investigators suspect Takeda of authorizing the payment of $2 million in bribes made on either side of the IOC vote in September 2013 to a Singapore company, Black Tidings.
“As for me, I was not involved in the decision-making process for deciding on Black Tiding,” Takeda said at the news conference. “There was no reason for me to question the process on this consultation deal.”
The International Olympic Committee has backed Takeda and says he has the presumption of innocence.
He testified with an IOC ethics commission on Friday. The IOC has not commented on details.
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were also sullied by corruption scandals. Carlos Nuzman, the head of those games, resigned afterward accused of vote-buying.
There was some speculation Takeda might use his brief address to step aside on Tuesday, at least temporarily.