TOKYO (AP) Japanese Olympic organizers set up a committee on Wednesday to initiate the selection of a new emblem for the 2020 Tokyo Games after the original design was scrapped over allegations of plagiarism.
Ryohei Miyata, president of the Tokyo University of the Arts, will head the group that will choose the members of the Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee. The new committee will examine issues surrounding the withdrawal of the previous emblem, and formulate a policy for the choice of a new one.
''To ensure the success of the Tokyo 2020 Games, it is essential that we actively engage as many people as possible,'' Miyata said. ''We will exert our utmost efforts toward the selection of emblems that the people of Japan can be proud of, and that will inspire excitement and passion throughout the whole of the country.''
The initial emblem came under intense scrutiny because of its similarity to the logo of a theater in Belgium.
The emblem's designer, Kenjiro Sano, stood by his design but offered to withdraw the logo when allegations surfaced that he may have used copied materials for other designs.
Tokyo organizers also scrapped the logo for the Paralympic Games, which was also designed by Sano.
Other members of the preliminary committee include former tennis pro Ai Sugiyama and TV sports commentator Keiichi Tadaki.
