From bullying to Holocaust joke, scandals dog Tokyo Olympics

Controversies tarnish Games' reputation with opening ceremony just hours away

20210722N Olympic venue

From allegations of plagiarism to bullying admissions, the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics have been rife with scandal. © Reuters

HISASHI TSUTSUI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- The embattled Tokyo Olympics organizing committee learned that things could still get worse.

Just days after a composer for ceremonies was forced to resign over bullying, the beleaguered organizers again found themselves in the midst of a scandal on the eve of its opening ceremony. This time the offense was a decades-old comedy skit about the Holocaust by a top member of its artistic team.

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