Special legislation was enacted Wednesday to enable the government to set up a new post of minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
At present, the education, culture, sports, science and technology minister concurrently serves as minister for the Olympics. But the government argues it's necessary to create a dedicated Cabinet post to accelerate preparations for the event.
The government is expected to upgrade the Cabinet Secretariat's relevant office to a task force, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as early as next month. It will have a staff of around 50 people.
The new body will be tasked with dealing with various matters related to the Olympics, such as implementing measures to counter terrorism and infectious diseases. It will also deal with the development of transportation infrastructure. Its members will include all Japanese ministers to set up the basic policy for preparations and operations of the event.
According to an additional clause in the Cabinet Act, Japan limits the number of ministers to 18. But the enacted legislation allows an increase of the figure to 19 by the end of 2020, together with the establishment of the task force.
Tokyo organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori welcomed the enactment, saying: "The most important thing is that the government and the organizing committee work together as one for the preparations.
"I have been eagerly awaiting the enactment (of the legislation)," he said.