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  • 9 months ago
Seven candidates will be competing in the election for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee from 18 to 21st this month in Greece. One of them will be replacing outgoing President Thomas Bach. President of International Gymnastics Federation Morinari Watanabe is bidding for IOC Presidency. He fielded questions from the international media including Serjio Du Four on his plans if elected.
Transcript
00:00President of the International Gymnastics Federation, Morinari Watanabe,
00:04is hoping to climb another level by becoming the president of the
00:08International Olympic Committee. He will be up against six other candidates. In an
00:13exclusive virtual meeting with the International Sports Press Association
00:16through its president Gianni Merlo, Watanabe indicated that he's visited
00:21over 160 countries and he has worked with a Trinbagonian along the way.
00:26Mr. Steve Butcher was elected to the men's technical committee in gymnastics.
00:32He's the first Trinidadian to be elected. Have you had interactions with him, one?
00:36And two, in Trinidad and Tobago, I'm not sure if this is a worldwide phenomenon as
00:42well, but there's a lack of male gymnasts. Is that a worldwide phenomenon and how do
00:48you intend to address that?
01:15Watanabe, who was a former gymnast,
01:17explained that it may take time before the numbers of male gymnasts match that
01:22of females as the sport develops.
01:24The developing is different. For example, gender equality,
01:31immediately can make gender equality. Some sports cannot be, but open the door and wait.
01:44Watanabe is hoping to host the Olympics in five different continents as opposed
01:49to a singular location. It's a plan he hopes to roll out by 2040. He says each
01:55continent can host ten sports. In addition, he wants greater focus on
01:59artificial intelligence for judging.
02:01Regarding what you stated in your manifesto pertaining to AI and technology,
02:07are you concerned about the lack of human touch in judging if you are to implement AI more?
02:16I don't want to say manipulate, but why have misjudged and why judges do manipulate?
02:37Because human touch. That's why for me, human touch makes a mistake.
02:46This is my experience in gymnastics.
02:53If elected as president of the IOC, Watanabe will be the first Japanese to take up the post
02:58at the 144th IOC session held from March 18th to the 21st in Greece.
03:07For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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