Figure skater Kao Miura responds to the cheers from the audience after completing his free skate routine at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 13. (©Sankei by Kan Emori)
The success of Japanese athletes at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics generated tremendous excitement in Japan. Unfortunately, their achievements were marred by the shadow of malicious social media posts that damaged the dignity of the athletes.
For example, in late January, before the Games opened, figure skater Kao Miura revealed that he had been a target.
Doping and war are, without a doubt, the most hated enemies of the sports world. But slander and libel on social media can also inflict severe damage on athletes.
Ayumi Tanimoto, a women's judo Olympic gold medalist and a member of the board of directors of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), called attention to the seriousness of the problem. She said, "Some athletes check social media in between matches, and the emotional effects on them can be quite significant."
Clearly, stronger measures must be taken to protect athletes.
'Hate Kills Passion'
During the recent Winter Olympics, the JOC set up bases in Japan and Milan. From these, it monitored social media, news, and other online content about the Olympics around the clock.
JOC administrators made 1,919 requests for deletion and confirmed that 371 were deleted. Those may be impressive results, but there are still over 1,500 unresolved cases.
After a female ski jumper from Poland performed poorly during competition, she was subjected to slanderous comments. The Polish Ski Federation immediately condemned the malicious posters, declaring, "Hate kills passion, destroys the spirit and attacks the foundations of sport."
For all the pageantry, the burden placed on Olympic competitors is becoming even greater behind the scenes at the venues.
Social media also offers places for athletes to share information about their activities and daily lives and to interact with fans. They are doubtless encouraged by the praise and encouragement they receive. However, the fact remains that hateful messages are unavoidable, too.
Many athletes competing for Japan have roots overseas. And they frequently encounter posts mocking them by linking their successes to their origins. In some cases, the platform administrators refuse to comply with requests to remove hateful messages because they are "posts based on facts."
Stop and Think Before Posting
When dealing with what might be characterized as the "gray zone," the sports world has no alternative but to persistently seek cooperation.
Legitimate criticism is essential for improving competitiveness and correcting organizational management. However, slander and emotional abuse are cruel and foolish acts. Awareness of this truth must be shared throughout society.
The Winter Paralympics begin on March 6. Shouldn't social media be treasured as a place for fans to share their excitement and passion through sports and to support athletes?
We urge anyone using social media to stop and think before posting or sharing.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
