Football
Associated Press 7y

Japan official Shun-Ichiro Okano dies; led World Cup organising committee

TOKYO -- The official who led Japan's organising committee of the 2002 World Cup has died. Shun-Ichiro Okano was 85.

Japan's football federation announced on Friday that Okano died from lung cancer on Thursday in a hospital in Tokyo.

Okano played for and coached the national team, and served a four-year term as the federation's president through the 2002 World Cup co-hosted with South Korea.

The federation said in a statement it "would like to extend our deep gratitude for his lifelong dedication."

Okano was also a member of the International Olympic Committee for more than 20 years until he reached the mandatory age limit of 80. He became an honorary IOC member in 2012.

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