Tokyo 2020 grapples with Olympic bid allegations
The organization is again in crisis mode after French prosecutors say the $2 million bid was linked to individuals under investigation for corruption.
French prosecutors allege that Tokyo paid roughly $2 million to an account associated with Papa Massata Diack, son of former president of the International Association of Athletic Federations, in relation to its bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.
The payment, sent from a Japanese bank, was marked “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Game bid.” It was given to the Black Tidings Company in Singapore—which was held by Papa Massata Diack’s close friend. Papa Massata Diack is being sought by Interpol.
His father, Lamine Diack, was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1999 to 2013. He was also an honorary IOC member in 2014 but resigned as IAAF president amid allegations that he had accepted more than $1.13 million in bribes to cover up Russian doping tests.
Though the Diacks have been under investigation for corruption for some time, The Guardian reported that the most recent allegations come as a heavy blow to the IOC:
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