Mayor branded ‘unhygienic’ after biting Olympian’s gold medal

Mayor branded ‘unhygienic’ after biting Olympian’s gold medal

Metro.co.uk - News·2021-08-15 11:00

Nagoya city Mayor Takashi Kawamura bites the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medal of the softball athlete Miu Goto (Picture: REUTERS)

An Olympian will receive a new gold medal after the first was bitten by a local mayor.

Takashi Kawamura, mayor of Nagoya in Japan, has apologised after chomping on softball athlete Miu Goto’s winning medal.

Mr Kawamura, 72,  asked Ms Goto to put the medal around his neck before pulling down his face mask and biting into it on August 4.

His bizarre behaviour sparked a backlash amid claims the mayor had ignored Covid restrictions and ‘lacked respect’.

More than 7,000 people complained to authorities about his actions – with critics branding him ‘unhygienic and impolite’ on social media, leading to ‘germ medal’ trending online in Japan.

Mr Kawamura put the medal between his teeth at a ceremony to mark Japan’s victory over the USA in the women’s softball final.

The mayor said the medal was not damaged but offered to pay for a replacement.

He said: ‘I forgot my position as Nagoya mayor and acted in an extremely inappropriate way,’ he said.

‘I’m really sorry that I hurt the treasure of the gold medallist,’ he added.

……

Read full article on Metro.co.uk - News

Japan Sports News International