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Japan men's team in business, women in economy
OLY_SOC Headlines
- Japan women's soccer team upgraded to business
- Mexico celebrating surprising soccer gold
- IOC withholds SKorean medal over political sign
- South Korean player not at Olympic medal ceremony
- Mexico beats Brazil to win 1st Olympic soccer gold
- Mexico's goal fastest in Olympics since 1976
- Slogan on South Korean flag probed at Olympics
- FIFA studies South Korea flag incident at Olympics
- Brazil looks to capture 1st Olympic soccer gold
- South Korea beats Japan to get Olympic bronze
Updated July 19, 2012
TOKYO (AP) Japan's world champion women's soccer team has taken exception to flying economy while their male counterparts sat in business class on a flight to Europe for the Olympics.
The women's team was assigned seats in premium economy for the 13-hour flight to Paris while the nation's under-23 men's team was up front on the same flight.
"It should have been the other way around," 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Homare Sawa told Japanese media after arriving in the French capital. "Even just in terms of age we are senior."
The Japan Football Association said the men fly business class to the Olympics because they are professionals.
The association upgraded the women's team to premium economy in recognition of their status as gold medal contenders. After winning the World Cup, Japan's women's team was upgraded to business class on its return flight from Germany. The JFA said Thursday that similar arrangements could be made if the team wins gold in London.
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