Bitten Olympic Gold Medal To Be Exchanged
The Olympic gold medal won by a Japanese softball pitcher and later bitten by a city mayor will be exchanged for a new one.
Nagoya Mayor Kawamura Takashi was visited on August 4 by pitcher Goto Miu, who helped Japan clinch gold at the Tokyo Games. The city is her hometown.
After Goto placed her medal around Kawamura's neck, the mayor suddenly removed his face mask and bit the medal.
The incident immediately set off a flurry of criticism. The mayor offered an apology the following day, saying he had behaved extremely inappropriately.
Ohmura Hideaki, the governor of Aichi Prefecture, which includes the city, said he hopes another medal will be issued for Goto. He also expressed intention to discuss the matter with relevant parties.
Sources say concerned organizations including the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Games organizing committee have decided to swap the bitten medal for a new one.
The sources say Goto has agreed to the decision.