The administration and coordination committee of the Japanese Olympic Committee on Thursday voiced its opposition to selecting a successor over 70 years old for the late Yushiro Yagi.

Yagi, who had been elected to the JOC's top post for a second term in March, died Sunday after collapsing in the sauna at an Osaka hotel. He was 72.

Some quarters of the Olympic Movement in Japan have suggested electing one of Japan's two members on the International Olympic Committee as JOC president.

Chiharu Igaya and Shunichiro Okano, however, both turned 70 this year and JOC officials at Thursday's meeting argued that the JOC's mandatory retirement age of 70 should be respected.

The JOC executive board is expected to discuss the issue further at its meeting next Tuesday.

Members of the administrative committee said it might be permissible for an IOC member over 70 to serve on the JOC executive board, but held firm that such a member should not be elected to the JOC's top posts of president, vice president or secretary general.

Yagi was elected JOC president in March after an exception was made to the JOC bylaws, under which candidates must be under the age of 70.

The JOC reasoned that it was better to keep Yagi as president to provide a foundation of continuity to Osaka's bid to host the 2008 Olympics prior to the IOC's vote in July.

Osaka was eliminated on the first ballot of the vote won by the Chinese capitol of Beijing.