All national dailies wrote that Seiko Hashimoto accepted on Thursday the offer from the executive board of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to take over as its head, succeeding former President Yoshiro Mori. Hashimoto told reporters after her appointment that taking effective measures against the novel coronavirus is her most important task and pledged to make the Games safe and secure. She also said she will improve gender equality in the organizing body.

Hashimoto submitted to Prime Minister Suga her resignation as minister in charge of the Olympics because Japan’s ministerial code prohibits ministers from taking concurrent positions in public organizations except for unpaid honorary roles. Suga tapped LDP Upper House lawmaker Tamayo Marukawa as the next Olympic minister, replacing Hashimoto. Marukawa will concurrently serve as minister in charge of women’s empowerment and gender equality as Hashimoto did.

Suga told reporters that the government will support Hashimoto in holding safe and secure Games that are welcomed by the people of Japan and the world. He also expressed confidence that she will be able to realize the ideals of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Yomiuri wrote that Hashimoto will need to deal with pressing issues such as whether to hold the nationwide torch relay as scheduled and allow spectators to watch the Games.