Japan's former Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto became Tokyo 2020's new president Thursday, capping an embarrassing sexism row with just over five months until the virus-postponed Games.
"I will spare no effort for the success of the Tokyo Games," said Hashimoto after being appointed.
She stepped down as one of just two women in Japan's cabinet earlier Thursday to take the key post.
The 56-year-old politician, who was also minister for gender equality and women's empowerment, will replace Yoshiro Mori, 83, after he sparked uproar with claims that women talk too much in meetings.
The appointment comes with public opinion in Japan still largely against holding the massive event this year.
Hashimoto is a passionate Olympian, who competed at seven consecutive winter and summer Games, in speed skating and as a sprint cyclist, winning a bronze for skating in 1992.
She has said she was raised being told by her father "'you were born to go to the Olympics'... even before I knew that the Olympics was."
