Director fired over Holocaust comments on eve of opening ceremony

On the eve of the Tokyo Games, organisers fired the director of the opening ceremony over comments he made about the Holocaust,

The news is the latest in a series of embarrassments for Tokyo organisers that have sparked outrage at home and abroad, and comes just days after a well-known musician was forced to step down as composer for the ceremony after old reports of his bullying and abusive behaviour surfaced.

The Tokyo 2020 organising committee says Kentaro Kobayashi, who is listed as a show director for the Games' opening event, was fired after a joke he made about the Holocaust as part of his comedy act in 1998 resurfaced in domestic media.

The opening ceremony tomorrow, which normally stands as a major showcase of the host nation, is set to be a subdued affair, with Japanese media reporting that less than 950 people - including only around 15 global leaders - are set to attend.

The Opening Ceremony will be from 11pm tomorrow.