Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has accepted a request to become head of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic organising committee.
Education and sports minister Hakubun Shimomura said Mori expressed informal consent in a meeting Sunday night, Kyodo news agency reported.
The Japanese Olympic Committee is expected to establish the organising committee on January 24.
The 76-year-old Mori initially rejected the request, citing his age.
Mori served as prime minister for one year from April 2000.
His term in office was marked by several gaffes including continuing a round of golf after receiving news that the submarine USS Greeneville had accidentally hit and sunk a Japanese fishing ship off the coast of Hawaii during an emergency surface drill in February 2001, resulting in the death of nine students and teachers.
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