JOC Sets Up Team to Monitor Online Abuse of Athletes
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With the Asian Games approaching, Japan's two main sports governing bodies have launched a new initiative to shield athletes from online hostility.
The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and the Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC) have established a dedicated center in Nagoya to monitor social media platforms for slanderous or abusive posts targeting athletes.
The facility will reportedly operate on a round-the-clock basis, with staff continuously scanning online platforms for harmful content directed at competitors.
Officials say the initiative's central aim is to protect athletes from the psychological harm that can result from cyberbullying, particularly during high-profile competitions when public scrutiny intensifies.
Athletes competing in major international events frequently become targets of harsh criticism on social media, sometimes over minor mistakes or perceived poor performances.
By establishing a monitoring system ahead of the Asian Games, the JOC and JPC appear to be taking a more proactive stance on athlete welfare than in previous years.
The move comes alongside a broader public awareness campaign. Former professional footballer Kakitani Yoichiro has spoken out on the issue, urging people to reflect before posting negative comments online.
Kakitani specifically recommended that people take six seconds to breathe deeply before expressing anger or frustration in writing, a technique often associated with managing emotional impulses.
His comments were made as part of efforts to raise public awareness about the effects of online abuse ahead of the tournament.
The establishment of the monitoring center reflects growing concern within Japanese sports organisations about the mental health impact of social media abuse on competitors.
In recent years, numerous athletes worldwide have spoken publicly about receiving abusive messages online, prompting sports bodies to introduce stronger protective measures.
By combining active monitoring with public awareness campaigns, the JOC and JPC hope to create a safer digital environment for athletes representing Japan at the Asian Games.
Further details about how the center will respond to identified cases of abuse have not yet been made public.
Vocabulary7 words
- Asian Games
- a major multi-sport competition among Asian nations
- JOC
- the body responsible for Japan's Olympic team
- JPC
- the body responsible for Japan's Paralympic team
- monitor
- to carefully observe over a period of time
- slanderous
- containing false and damaging statements
- round-the-clock
- happening all day and night without stopping
- cyberbullying
- using digital platforms to harm or intimidate someone
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Quiz
Answer key
1. To monitor social media for abuse against athletes 2. Continuously, around the clock 3. True
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Discussion questions
- What responsibilities do you think sports organisations have in protecting athletes from online abuse?
- Why might monitoring alone not be enough to solve the problem of cyberbullying?
- Do you think public awareness campaigns like Kakitani's can change people's online behavior?
- How might the pressure of major competitions like the Asian Games contribute to online abuse of athletes?
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