Olympics

EDITORIAL | Olympics Controversies No Reason to Defame Athletes, Judges

There are always judgment calls and reasons for criticism of judges and even athletes at the Olympics, but responding by defamation should never be allowed.

Published

3 months ago

August 5, 2024

Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

Judoka Ryuju Nagayama after he lost to Spaniard Francisco Garrigos in a controversial quarterfinal match at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. (©Sankei by Keisuke Nagashima)

The fiercely competitive Paris Olympics continue. At the same time, criticism of questionable decisions by the judges also continues.

In a men's 60-kilogram class quarterfinal judo match Japanese judoka Ryuju Nagayama lost consciousness while in a chokehold. His opponent Spanish judoka Francisco Garrigos did not let go even after the referee ordered "wait" to pause the contest. Garrigos was declared the winner.

Likewise, in a men's basketball game between Japan and France, the Japanese team held the lead near the end of the game. Then, Yuki Kawamura was inexplicably called for a foul. A French player sank a free throw, which sent the game into overtime. Japan lost in OT.

After both contests, the opposing players and referees were subjected to a flood of critical and disparaging comments. Some of those were in Japanese. There was understandable frustration since in both cases a questionable official judgment decided the final outcome.

Disagreement is Legitimate, Defamation is Not

The validity of the points being criticized was also undeniable. Nevertheless, the targeting of individuals for venomous verbal abuse was something entirely different.

In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter, Nagayama wrote: "Both competitors fought tooth-and-nail, so please refrain from making slanderous remarks. It was a difficult situation for the referee to make a decision." Alongside a photo of himself together with Garrigos, he wrote, "We both belong to the same judo family."

Kawamura also posted a message reading, "It's all on the referee. No excuses there." He added that he was impressed by the honesty of the players themselves, who must have felt the greatest disappointment at being disparaged.

The insults flying around the Internet are so cruel, so pointed and so hurtful that they don't bear repeating here.

*In Paris during the women's judo 57-kg final, Christa Deguchi representing Canada competes against South Korea's Hae Sil Heo. (©Kyodo)*

After she won the women's 57-kilogram judo competition, Christa Deguchi, who was born in Japan but now represents Canada, became a target of vicious attacks. She issued a statement saying, "Is there really any justification to go out of your way to hurl hurting words that will make someone else sad?"

Uta Abe, who competed as a 52-kilogram class judoka, was savaged after she broke down completely after losing a match. She apologized for "presenting such a pathetic sight." However, her older brother Hifumi Abe, who won a gold medal in the men's 66-kilogram judo event, responded differently. He wrote, "There was nothing whatsoever pathetic about it….I'm proud of Uta from the bottom of my heart."

*Uta Abe loses to an Uzbek judoka at the Champ-de-Mars Arena. (©Sankei by Keisuke Mizushima)*

Combatting Online Defamation

The International Olympic Committee and national athlete organizations are both working to combat online defamation. However, no decisive measures have as yet been put in place.

The despicable act of hiding behind a cloak of anonymity while seeking to stab people in the heart to gain self-satisfaction will eventually corrode the perpetrator's own spirit.

Even aside from the Olympics, there has been a seemingly unending stream of tragic incidents caused by online defamation. Enough is enough. Isn't it time we abandoned this vile habit?

(Read the editorial in Japanese)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun