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.
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