Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics have sacked the director of the opening ceremony, Kantaro Kobayashi just a day before the event takes place.

The 48-year-old comedian, was fired after a skit he performed in 1998 that made light of Nazi genocide resurfaced, including the moment he told his audience: 'Let's play Holocaust'. 

Seiko Hashimoto, president of Tokyo's Olympic committee, said Kobayashi's entire ceremony is now being 'reviewed' just hours before it is due to be performed, adding: 'We're still considering how to hold the opening ceremony tomorrow'.

The comedian is just the latest big name to be sacked from the Olympic organising team this week after the opening ceremony composer was fired and a popular children's author withdrew from a cultural event - both over historic bullying claims.