The 70-year-old was formally unveiled, alongside Mori, 76, at a special event held at the offices of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

"When it won the right to host the Games, Japan pledged a superb and reliable Olympics as its first promise," said Mori, who will be the President of Tokyo 2020. 

"We hope all the people of Japan will anticipate the Olympics with pleasure as they draw nearer day by day, and that they will join together to welcome the people of the world in 2020."

Since Tokyo were awarded the Games last September by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session in Buenos Aires they have suffered a blow with the resignation of the city's Governor Naoki Inose after he was implicated in a funding scandal.

But Mori, whose year as Prime Minister in 2000 was plagued by a series of gaffes and inappropriate comments, pledged to ensure things ran more smoothly from now on.

"I am honoured to have been selected to lead the new Organising Committee, and I am fully committed to ensuring that we will deliver a fantastic Games that will showcase the power of sport and further reinforce the Olympic values," said Mori, who is President of the Japan Rugby Football Union.

New Tokyo 2020 President Yoshirō Mori (third left) has promised a "celebration of sport that will live long in the memories of all members of the Olympic Movement" ©Tokyo 2020

Tokyo 2020 will start with a staff of 50, a number that will increase to 3,000 with 80,000 volunteers in six years.

The budget of the Organising Committee is estimated at ¥301.3 billion (£1.8 billion/$2.9 billion/€2.1 billion), according to the candidature file submitted by the Bid Committee to the IOC last year.

"I am also pleased that Mr Muto will serve as chief executive officer of the Organising Committee," said Mori. 

"I believe he will provide the requisite strong leadership to organise the 3,000 staff members and the 80,000 volunteers who will be working during Games time.

"Now that the new Organising Committee has been established, our work begins in earnest.

"We will collaborate closely with the members of the Olympic and Paralympic Families and dedicate our entire efforts towards the successful delivery of a Games and a celebration of sport that will live long in the memories of all members of the Olympic Movement, the athletes, the spectators, and people watching around the world." 

The official unveiling of Mori and Muto followed a series of key meetings, including the Multi-Party Leaders' - also known as the Olympic Board, the Executive Meeting at Incorporation, the Council Board and the Executive Board.

Besides Mori, the Olympic Board was also attended by Tsunekazu Takeda,President of the Japanese Olympic Committee and a member of the IOC, Toshiyuki Akiyama, Vice Governor of Tokyo, and Hakubun Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Muto has a financial background, like London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton did, having served as Deputy Governer of the Bank of Japan for five years until 2008 and, before that, as top bureaucrat of the Finance Ministry.

"I am delighted and deeply honoured to be part of this Olympic journey," he said.

"I will draw on all my previous experiences and place myself entirely at the service of Tokyo 2020.

"This new appointment has given me renewed motivation to deliver a wonderful Olympic and Paralympic Games that will inspire new generations both in Japan and around the world to achieve their own hopes and dreams.

"The team will be composed of staff from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the national Government, and the sporting communities from Japan and overseas, as well as staff from private sector companies in the future.

"We are eager to begin putting in place our plans for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games; we are keen to start working on that right away."

Tokyo 2020 currently have a staff of 50 but that will be raise to 3,000 by the time the Games start, along with 80,000 volunteers ©Tokyo 2020

Concern, however, has been raised by the ages of the top officials who face a gruelling six-and-a-half years, working long hours and travelling around the world.

Mori will be 83 by the time of the Games in 2020 while Muro will be 76 - a combined age of 159.

In contrast, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe was 55 by the time the British capital staged the Olympics and Deighton 56.

Mori even admitted when he was approached for the job that he may not still be alive by the time of Tokyo 2020.

Today, however, he was keen to play down those fears.

"But that's the real beauty of sports," he said.

"It makes you stretch yourself to your ultimate limit."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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