Ryohei Miyata, President of the Tokyo University of the Arts, has been appointed head of the group, which will help select the Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee. 

A previous emblem designed by Kenjiro Sano was scrapped earlier this month following allegations of plagiarism.

Among the other five members appointed are Ai Sugiyama, a former professional tennis player and television sports commentator, as well as Keiichi Tadaki, lawyer and former prosecutor general, and Takeshi Natsuno, guest professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance of Keio University.

Completing the line-up is Mari Christine, an inter-cultural communications specialist and media personality, and Hiroshi Yamamoto, professor at Hosei University's Faculty of Sports and Health Studies and former announcer and commentator for Japan's national broadcasting organisation, NHK. 

"There is a great deal of interest among the general public about the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic emblems," said Miyata.

"My appointment as chair of the preliminary committee that will pave the way for the creation of new Games emblems brings with it a heavy responsibility, however, it is also a tremendous honour.

"To ensure the success of the Tokyo 2020 Games, it is essential that we actively engage as many people as possible.

"We will exert our utmost efforts towards the selection of emblems that the people of Japan can be proud of, and that will inspire excitement and passion throughout the whole of the country."

Sano's previous design was axed on September 1 due to the plagiarism row.

He had issued an apology after admitting his staff stole designs from a promotional campaign for Japanese beverage firm Suntory, while Belgian designer Olivier Debie had also filed a lawsuit against the International Olympic Committee after saying the now former logo was based on his Liege Theatre emblem.

As well as selecting the membership of the Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee, the preliminary group will examine the issues surrounding the withdrawal of the previous emblems, and based on its findings, will then formulate a basic policy for the selection of new emblems.

The first meeting of the preliminary committee is scheduled to take place on Friday (September 18).



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