New Tokyo Olympics chief vows 'safety' as priority

Seiko Hashimoto, who made history on Thursday when she was named president of the Tokyo Olympic organising committee, said her mission will be to put together a "tournament where safety is the highest priority".

The move could be groundbreaking in Japan where women are rare in the boardroom or in positions of power.

Hashimoto, an athlete herself, wants to create an atmosphere that allows athletes to "stand on this dream stage without hesitation", she said.

The 56-year-old Hashimoto was named president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee after a meeting of its executive board, which is 80% male.

She replaces 83-year-old Yoshiro Mori, a former Japanese prime minister who was forced to resign last week after making sexist comments about women.

Essentially, he said women talk too much.

Hashimoto had been serving as the Olympic minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

She also held a portfolio dealing with gender equality and women's empowerment.

Hashimoto has appeared in seven Olympics, four in the winter and three in the summer — the most by any "multi-season" athlete in the games.

She won a bronze medal — her only medal — at the 1992 Albertville Games in speedskating.