National Anthems should be sung loud and clear, Tokyo 2020 chief warns Japanese athletes

New Delhi: In a bid to instill more patriotic fervour, Japan's Olympic team has been warned by the president of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee not to "mumble" the national anthem.

Speaking to 300 athletes at a send-off ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Yoshiro Mori said that who did not sing national anthem “Kimigayo” properly did not deserve to represent the country.

"When you go up to the podium, please do not be mumbling but sing the national anthem," the former prime minister told those gathered on Sunday.

"Athletes who cannot sing the anthem should not be considered to be Japan's representatives," the Asahi newspaper reports him as saying.

Japan, always a force to reckon with in the Olympics, are targetting between 14 ro 30 medals in Rio.

It's different matter that Mori is well known for his off-the-cuff remarks.