The Organizing Committee of the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday fired the director of the opening ceremony of the sporting event, due to a joke with the Holocaust, which he had made during a comic show in 1998.
Committee Chairman Seiko Hashimoto announced a day before the opening ceremony that director Kentaro Kobayashi had been fired. He was accused of joking with the Holocaust during the show.
“We found that Mr. Kobayashi, in his interpretation, used a phrase mocking a historical tragedySaid Mr. Hashimoto. “We apologize deeply for this development the day before the opening ceremony, as well as for the concern we have caused to many parties involved, both in Tokyo and in other parts of the country.“.
The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed due to the pandemic, is scheduled for Friday. The ceremony will be held without spectators as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections. However, a number of guests, officials, and media representatives are expected to attend.
