Women's marathon Olympic champion Takahashi Naoko among 12 new women on Tokyo 2020 executive board

Sydney 2000 gold medallist Takahashi Naoko was among 12 women added to the executive board of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee on Wednesday (3 March).

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Tokyo 2020 council as part of President Hashimoto Seiko's hard push for gender equality.

The total number of seats on the board was also increased by 10 to 45, of which 19 are now female.

Arakida Yuko, part of the gold medal-winning women's volleyball squad at Montreal 1976, has also been named Tokyo 2020 Vice-President.

Hashimoto made it clear this was not to be confused as a publicity stunt and that the real work starts here.

"When I took this position I said we would increase the number of women on the board with a sense of urgency", said Hashimoto, who only replaced Mori Yoshiro as Tokyo 2020 President on 18 February.

"With this, women now make up 42.2 per cent of the executive board, up from 21.6 per cent.

"Having said that, we are not doing this to simply make up numbers or increasing female members for the sake of increasing them.

"What's important is what we can achieve from this point on".

A colorful cast joins Olympic marathon champion Takahashi on the board.

Among them are: Obinata Kuniko, head of the Paralympians Association of Japan; Japan Skating Federation Vice-President Saiki Naoko; Sasaki Kaori, founder and CEO of eWoman, a company promoting diversity and women in the workplace; and Hayashi Izumi, partner at Sakurazaka Law Offices.

Hashimoto said the diverse backgrounds of the new dozen will only strengthen the board's decision-making.

"We have many experts in various fields", she said.

"We only have so many meetings left but we look forward to hearing what they have to say and how they can advise us.

"More than ever, I believe we will be able to reflect diversity and inclusion and gender equality".

Meanwhile, following five-party talks with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, International Paralympic Committee President Craig Parsons, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko and Olympic minister Marukawa Tamayo, Hashimoto said a decision on whether to allow spectators from abroad will be taken by the 25 March start of the Olympic Torch Relay.

"Both the IOC and IPC are being asked to make a decision sooner rather than later.

"We feel like deciding on overseas fans will lead to reassurance and a safer and more secure Games".

Hashimoto also said a ruling on crowd capacity at the Games will be made in April.