Tokyo Olympics golf course agrees to amend membership policy

The course that will host the 2020 Tokyo Olympic golf tournament has avoided being stripped of the event by deciding to change its membership policy to include women.

The Kasumigaseki Country Club has announced that its executive board decided on the change after discussions among its members. The membership policy came under scrutiny when Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged it to admit women as full members.

Other critics said the club's policy was contrary to the spirit of the Olympics.

The vote followed International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach having warned the club of consequences for upholding a ban on female members.

At a recent news conference in South Korea, Bach stated “should gender equality not be respected, then we would look for another venue which would ensure non-discrimination.”

Yoshiro Mori, President of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, welcomed the change.

Mori said in a statement "I'd like to extend my gratitude to the members of the club for their understanding and cooperation.”

The club's policy had excluded women from full-fledged membership but not from playing or other types of membership.

Founded in 1929 as a private club, Kasumigaseki is one of Japan's oldest and most prestigious golf clubs. Within a few years of its opening, the club started allowing female players.

However, some Japanese clubs still bar women from playing.

Image: Kasumigaseki Country Club.

21st February 2017 - TOKYO OLYMPICS GOLF COURSE TOLD TO ADMIT WOMEN OR LOSE GAMES EVENTS 

15th February 2017 - SAUDI ARABIA TO START GRANTING LICENCES FOR FEMALE GYM OPERATIONS 

6th December 2016 - SPIRALLING BUDGETS, VENUE PLANS DOMINATE TOKYO 2020 MEETINGS

2nd October 2016 - TOKYO OLYMPIC STADIUM BUILDING CONTRACT FINALLY APPROVED

23rd September 2016 - IOC PRESIDENT PROCLAIMS ‘TIME OF ASIA’ AS SPORTS MINISTERS SIGN DECLARATION IN PYEONGCHANG

4th August 2016 - NEW SPORTS CONFIRMED FOR THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES

24th July 2016 - SWING FIT AIMS TO BOOST FEMALE GOLF PARTICIPATION THROUGH SOCIAL AND WELLNESS ENGAGEMENT

29th January 2016 - TOKYO 2020 PUBLISHES EARLY PLANS FOR ‘SUSTAINABLE, MINIMAL IMPACT’ OLYMPICS