By Duncan Mackay

IOC Executive Director for the Olympics Gilbert Felli is holding a two-day orientation seminar for Tokyo 2020 @Photo KishimotoNovember 14 - A team from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today started to hold a two-day orientation seminar in Tokyo for officials who will be involved in the preparations for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. 


Led by Gilbert Felli, Executive Director for the Olympic Games, the four-man IOC team are holding the meeting the Ajinomoto National Training Center, Japan's leading facility for some of its top athletes.

The team also includes Christophe Dubi, who is due to succeed Felli after Sochi 2014. 

Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda were among those attending the two-day orientation seminar @Photo KishimotoTokyo Governor Naoki Inose and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda were among those attending the two-day orientation seminar @Photo Kishimoto

Felli had been greeted at Narita International Airport by Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) President Tsunekazu Takeda.

Upon his arrival, the Swiss offered a big handshake and the words, "Congratulations, Tokyo", a reference to their victory over Istanbul and Madrid at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on September 7.

During the seminar, Felli will be outlining the course of events over the next seven years to Takeda and JOC members, the national federations of the 28 sports who will make up the programme for Tokyo 2020, as well as officials from the national and Tokyo Metropolitan Government, led by the city's Governor Naoki Inose.

More than 200 people attended the seminar, for which new IOC President Thomas Bach had recorded a special message.

A message from new IOC President Thomas Bach was read out to delegates at the start of the two-day orientation seminar @Photo KishimotoA message from new IOC President Thomas Bach was read out to delegates at the start of the two-day orientation seminar for Tokyo 2020 @Photo Kishimoto 
Bach is due to visit Tokyo next week, along with John Coates, the IOC vice-president who has been appointed as chairman of the Coordination Commission which will monitor the Japanese capital's preparations.

High on the agenda will be the composition of Tokyo's Organising Committee, due to be launched in February.

Among those linked with heading the Committee is Japan's former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, now President of the Japan Rugby Football Union.

IOC Executive Director for the Olympics Gilbert Felli with Christophe Dubi, the man who will succeed him after Sochi 2014 @Photo KishimotoIOC Executive Director for the Olympics Gilbert Felli (centre) with Christophe Dubi (right), the man who will succeed him after Sochi 2014 @Photo Kishimoto

But Fujio Cho, the honorary chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation, who is also head of the Japan Sports Association has claimed that Mori should be ruled out because, at the age of 76, he thinks he is too old.

Mori, generally derided as one of Japan's most unpopular Prime Ministers, should not be considered because the role should go to someone "young, like in his 50s," said Cho.

Cho, who is also 76, added: "The younger generation should be at the heart of it all.

"I think us old-timers should just be there to support them."

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