slapping on the wrist #2

猪瀬東京知事が早速、反論（釈明？言い訳？）に乗り出しました。slap on the wristは 「軽いお叱り、お仕置き」、つまり"mild punishment"という意味です（時に「なまぬるい罰」と批判的に用いられることもあります）。（UG）

Tokyo Gov. Inose dismisses accusation over reported remarks on Istanbul

Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose on Monday brushed aside accusations that he criticized Istanbul, one of Tokyo's rival bidders for the 2020 Olympics, in a recent interview with the New York Times.

The newspaper's story "accused me of criticizing a rival city but what I intended to convey was not accurately reflected in the article," Inose said in a statement.

Inose issued the statement after Tokyo's bid committee for the 2020 Summer Games expressed regret earlier Monday about the reported remarks by him. "It's extremely disappointing a story like this has come out," Tokyo spokesman Tokuaki Suzuki said. "We will play by the rules, and take the utmost precaution to avoid any kind of comparison with the other candidates and make sure no one is portrayed in a negative light...We will respect our competition."

The IOC prohibits bid candidates from criticizing or comparing themselves with the other cities. Tokyo is vying with Istanbul and Madrid for the right to host the 2020 Summer Games, and the winner will be announced on Sept. 7 at the IOC assembly in Buenos Aires.

In the interview published Friday, Inose said, "Well, compare the two countries where they have yet to build infrastructure, very sophisticated facilities."

"So, from time to time, like Brazil, I think it's good to have a venue for the first time. But Islamic countries, the only thing they have in common is Allah and they are fighting with each other, and they have classes," the governor was quoted as saying.

But in his latest statement he countered the accusation, saying, "I have been to Turkey and Istanbul is one of my favorite cities."

"I don't have the slightest idea of making critical comments on other bidding cities," he added.

"It is extremely regrettable that "The (New York Times) story deviates from the context of the interview," Inose added.

The IOC responded to Inose by slapping Tokyo on the wrist.

"It is not entirely clear from the translation what exactly the governor was trying to say, but we would remind all candidates of the rules pertaining to the bid process," the IOC said in a statement.

Turkish sports minister Suat Kilic tweeted that the Tokyo bid committee chairman violated the Olympic spirit.

"It's very disappointing," Kilic said. "It goes against the spirit of the Olympic movement. We have never been critical of the other cities and we are not about to start."

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/04/222425.html

cf. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20110220/1298213717
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20130429/1367240713