Though the Japanese Olympic Committee has said Black Tidings provided "legitimate" consulting services, the payment has raised concerns about bribery in the Olympic bidding process. Japanese Olympic officials have appointed two independent lawyers and an accountant to investigate a controversial payment made by Tokyo's bid committee during the host competition for the 2020 Summer Games. The company that received the money, Black Tidings, had links to Papa Massata Diack, son of former international track chief Lamine Diack. The panel will examine the circumstances surrounding $2 million the committee transferred to a Singapore company in 2013, around the time the Japanese capital was selected to host the Games. Lawyers Yoshihisa Hayakawa and Kazuki Shishido and accountant Keiichi Kubo are scheduled to begin meeting Thursday.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 25, 2016 12:30 UTC