Japan's Olympic Committee head denies impropriety in 2020 bid procedures

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION The head of Japan's Olympic Committee confirmed on Tuesday (January 15) that he was questioned by French authorities in December but repeated his denial there was anything improper involved in Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Games and vowed to show his innocence.

French financial prosecutors investigating a multi-million dollar payment made by Japan's bidding committee to a Singaporean consultancy questioned Tsunekazu Takeda in Paris and he was placed under formal investigation for suspected corruption on Dec.

10, a judicial source told Reuters on Friday (January 11).

Takeda told a packed news conference there were no reasons to doubt any part of Japan's dealings with the Singaporean consultancy in connection with Tokyo's bid and that he would cooperate fully with French authorities.

After apologizing to the Japanese people and everyone involved in organizing the 2020 Tokyo Games, for worrying them, Takeda repeated denials made in a Friday statement that there were any improprieties in Japan's dealings with the Singaporean consultancy.

French investigators have led a years-long probe into corruption in athletics and in early 2016 extended their inquiry into the bidding and voting processes for the hosting of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.