JOC Sets Up Team to Monitor Online Abuse of Athletes
Listen to the story
Ahead of the Asian Games, two Japanese sports organisations have taken action to protect athletes from online abuse.
The JOC (Japanese Olympic Committee) and the JPC (Japanese Paralympic Committee) have opened a new center in Nagoya to monitor social media.
The center's job is to watch for slander and hurtful comments about Japanese athletes online. This kind of behavior is often called cyberbullying.
According to reports, the center will operate on a 24-hour system, meaning staff will check social media around the clock.
The organisations say the main goal of the project is to protect athletes from harmful messages during the Asian Games.
Athletes often receive negative comments online, especially during big competitions when public attention is high.
Former professional football player Kakitani Yoichiro spoke publicly about the issue before the games began.
He encouraged people to take 'six seconds to breathe' before posting angry or hurtful words online.
His message was part of a wider campaign calling for people to think carefully before writing comments about athletes.
The new monitoring center shows how seriously Japanese sports organisations are treating the problem of online abuse.
By watching social media closely, the JOC and JPC hope to react quickly if athletes are targeted with harmful comments.
Officials hope this effort will create a safer environment for athletes competing at the Asian Games.
Vocabulary10 words
- Asian Games
- a large sports competition between Asian countries
- JOC
- the organisation for Japan's Olympic athletes
- JPC
- the organisation for Japan's Paralympic athletes
- monitor
- to watch something carefully over time
- slander
- false or harmful statements about someone
- cyberbullying
- using the internet to hurt or attack someone
- 24-hour system
- working all day and night without stopping
- Kakitani Yoichiro
- a well-known former Japanese footballer
- campaign
- organised actions to reach a goal
- target
- to direct harmful actions at someone
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Quiz
Answer key
1. To monitor social media for abuse against athletes 2. 24 hours a day 3. Take six seconds to breathe
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Ahead of the _____, two Japanese sports organisations have taken action.
The _____ and the _____ have opened a new center in Nagoya.
The center's job is to watch for _____ and hurtful comments online.
This kind of behavior is often called _____.
The center will operate on a _____ system.
The main goal is to _____ athletes from harmful messages.
Former football player _____ spoke publicly about the issue.
He encouraged people to take _____ before posting angry words.
His message was part of a wider _____.
Officials hope athletes will not be _____ with harmful comments.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think athletes receive online abuse during big competitions?
- Do you think a monitoring center can really stop cyberbullying? Why or why not?
- What do you think about Kakitani's advice to breathe before posting online?
- Have you ever seen harmful comments online? How did you feel about them?
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