The shadow of corruption hangs over the Tokyo 2020 Games

The Tokyo Prosecutor’s Office and Japan’s antitrust authorities are investigating apparent irregularities in the concessions of the tenders to organize the test events of the last Olympic Games in the Japanese capital.

As part of this investigation, authorities on Friday searched the headquarters of Japan’s largest advertising agency. and Dentsu has also collaborated with the Games organization, as well as event producer Cerespo, reported public channel NHK.

According to media releases, Dentsu and other companies negotiate the concessions in advance to determine the winners of the bids. linked to the organization of the test events for last summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic Games’ own organizing committee. involved in irregularitiesas the winning companies would have been selected from a list prepared by the entity.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has opened an investigation for their part to ask about contracts.

A total of 26 tenders worth more than 500 million yen (about 3.5 million euros) are in the spotlight.

Although all are managed by the organizing committee, some projects are implemented jointly with the regional government of the capital, where it assumes some costs.

Japanese authorities are conducting an exhaustive investigation into the past Olympic Games. Tokyo after one of the members of the board of directors of the organizing committee of the sports event was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes.

The alleged recipient of the money and central figure in the case is Haruyuki Takahashi (78), that he would have used a consultancy owned by an acquaintance to receive payments.

Takahashi remains in prison while the investigation continues, accused of receiving nearly 200 million yen (1.4 million euros) from at least five companies, including various sponsors of the event, including the Kadokawa publishing house and the chain of Aoki costume shops.