IOC Demands Tokyo Organizing Committee Address KGC Equality Issues

The IOC "on Friday requested Tokyo Games organizers address the issue of Kasumigaseki Country Club," the scheduled 2020 Games golf venue that does not extend full memberships to women, according to KYODO. The club in Kawagoe in neighboring Saitama Prefecture also prohibits women from playing on Sundays. The IOC stated that "the situation is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games," and asked organizers to "provide a solution that will allow women and men equal use of the facility." Organizing Committee Vice-Dir General Yukihiko Nunomura, who admitted the committee was contacted by the IOC, said, "It is something that has to be examined (first) by the Japan Golf Association and Kasumigaseki Country Club." Also on Friday, the Japan Golf Council, a "self-described golf reform organization," visited Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori to request changing the Olympic venue to Wakasu Golf Links in Tokyo, which is just 6km from the athletes village. Kasumigaseki is 44km away (KYODO, 1/27).