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sports Diaranson 27 Juli 2022

Report: Tokyo Olympic board member under investigation

(AP) — Prosecutors Tokyo Metropolitan Govern-
searched the home of for- ment held a ceremony at the
mer Tokyo Olympic orga- $1.4 billion National Stadi-
nizing committee execu- um to mark the anniversary.
tive board member Har-
uyuki Takahashi on Tues- Aoki is reported to have sup-
day in connection with plied uniforms for the Olym-
payments made to him by pics and sold licensed prod-
an Olympic sponsor of the ucts carrying the Olympic
Tokyo Games, the Japa- logo.
nese news agency Kyodo
reported. Takahashi was closely tied to
the Tokyo Games.
Kyodo said Takahashi is
thought to have received He is reported to have re-
around 45 million yen ceived millions of dollars
($330,000) from clothing from the Tokyo bid com-
retailer Aoki Holdings Inc. mittee for his work lobbying
Kyodo said Aoki's Olympic International Olympic Com-
sponsorship was announced mittee members when Tokyo
about a year after the report- was chosen in 2013 in Bue-
ed payments. nos Aires, Argentina, ahead
of Madrid and Istanbul.
Takahashi was a member of
the Tokyo Olympic executive He has said there was noth-
board, and Kyodo said that as ing improper about the pay-
a quasi-civil servant, accept- ments and has denied any exclusive marketing agency littered with problems before members in the 2013 vote.
ing money or gifts could be wrongdoing. for the Tokyo Olympics and the pandemic hit.
constitute bribery. was pivotal in lining up a Yoshiro Mori, the presi-
Takahashi is a former em- record of more than $3 bil- Tsunekazu Takeda, the for- dent of the Tokyo organiz-
The Tokyo Olympic organiz- ployee of the giant Japanese lion in domestic sponsorship mer president of the Japa- ing committee, was forced
ing committee was dissolved advertising agency Dentsu, deals. nese Olympic Committee, to resign five months before
on June 30. The Tokyo Inc., which is credited with resigned in 2019 after being the Olympics opened after
Olympics, delayed for a year, helping Tokyo land the The Tokyo Games, which of- tied to an investigation into making demeaning remarks
opened on July 23, 2021. The Olympics. Dentsu was the ficially cost $13 billion, were bribes reportedly paid to IOC about women.

Future Dodger? Juan Soto, lowly Nats cool off LA in 4-1 win

(AP) — Los Angeles "Future Dodger!" the crowd four-run fifth inning and the in some runs," Nats manager The Nationals haven't sig-
Dodgers fans made their of 48,647 chanted. They lowly Washington Nationals Dave Martinez said. "It was a naled that they're looking to
feelings known as Juan heartily applauded Soto in his defeated the NL West-lead- big moment for Juan to come unload the left-handed hitter
Soto stepped into the bat- first at-bat. ing Dodgers 4-1 on Monday through." with a .248 average and .895
ter's box, just in case the night, snapping Los Ange- OPS. But that hasn't stopped
Washington Nationals star Whether he ends up in LA or les' 11-game home winning The Nationals (33-65) the growing speculation, es-
didn't get their message at not, Soto put on a show. streak. brought the worst record in pecially after Soto turned
the All-Star Game. "Our best player, Soto, comes the majors into Dodger Sta- down a long-term contract
His two-run triple capped a up with a big hit and drove dium, where they won for offer worth $440 million.
the first time since the 2019
NL Division Series, against Soto finished 2 for 4 with a
the team with baseball's best strikeout and a walk. He chat-
record (64-31). The Dodg- ted up former Nats teammate
ers' season-high eight-game Trea Turner, with whom he
overall winning streak ended. stays in regular contact.
The Nationals batted around
Soto said before the game in the fifth when Yadiel
he's trying not to think about Hernández led off with an
the trade talk swirling around opposite-field solo shot over
him ahead of the Aug. 2 trade the wall in left that tied the
deadline. The chatter isn't af- game 1-1.
fecting him at the plate. Soto
is batting .362 with a 1.260 After two quick outs, Tony
OPS this month, including Gonsolin (11-1) gave up
six homers, a triple and two four straight base hits in his
doubles. first defeat of the season and
his first start since taking the
The 23-year-old All-Star loss for the NL in the All-
right fielder left his trophy Star Game. Ehire Adrianza
from winning last week's and Victor Robles singled
Home Run Derby in the back-to-back before César
visitors' clubhouse, knowing Hernández hit a bloop single
that he'd soon be back here. It inside the third-base line to
rested on a wheeled trunk in make it 2-1.
the middle of the room with
a gold link chain wrapped Soto's two-run triple over
around it and Derby Champ the first-base bag scored two
spelled out in platinum. runs to extend Washington's
lead to 4-1.