Race Walker Withdraws After Abe Uta’s Tearful Appeal as JOC Issues Unprecedented Statement on Defamation at Paris Olympics

As expected at the heated Paris Olympics, slander has become a problem.

In the men’s 60-kilogram judo event, Nagayama Tatsuki was eliminated due to an “inexplicable decision. In the quarterfinals, Nagayama was taking a stranglehold from Francisco Garrigos of Spain when the referee told him to wait, but his opponent did not stop attacking and fainted, scoring an ippon. The Japanese side protested vigorously, but the decision was not overturned, and Nagayama ended up with the bronze medal.

The Internet was abuzz with criticism of the opponent for not releasing the clamping technique. Nagayama, unable to stand by himself, posted a two-shot of himself and Garrigos on his Instagram page on July 29, and wrote

In the quarterfinals, both fighters fought hard, so please refrain from slandering Gallegos. I think it was a difficult situation for the judges to make a decision.

(original text only).

Also in judo, controversy arose when the women’s 52-kilogram weight class competitor Abe Uta was distraught after unexpectedly losing in the second round.

After Abe stepped off the tatami mat, she screamed and sobbed, and the stands erupted in “uta calls. The stands erupted in “uta calls,” and Abe, who was unable to walk on her own, left the arena on the shoulders of her coach.

Reactions were divided as to whether the spectacle was “moving” or not.

Yoshizumi Ishihara, appearing on a morning information program, said

He said, “Including this, this is worth the effort, worth the three years of fighting. Sometimes it is cruel because it is a competition, but I think this is one page of the Olympics. We have only just begun, but perhaps this scene will be the most memorable scene of the Olympics.

He added, “This scene may be the most memorable scene of the Olympics.

On the other hand, Hideo Higashikunihara, former governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, said in X

I still don’t know how he should behave as a martial artist and judoka (he cried loudly and interfered with the progress of the games).

He posted, “I wonder what he would do as a martial artist and judo practitioner. A follower asked the following question

“Is it wrong to cry?

I don’t mind at all,” he replied.

Crying is totally fine. Expressing emotions is fine. But there is a place for it. It is not something that should be done to the extent of interfering with the progress of the match.

I don’t think it’s something that should be done to the extent of interfering with the progress of the match.

Abe’s tears on the Internet

I cried for him.

I cried for him,

“That was disgusting.

“That was disgusting.

to “That was so embarrassing.

A sports newspaper reporter in charge of the Olympics said

As was the case at the previous Tokyo Olympics, athletes who carry the expectations of the nation on their shoulders tend to attract slander. The fact that taxpayers’ money is being used to strengthen athletes is probably a major factor.

Japan is still a better place. Overseas, players who make mistakes often receive death threats. No matter how much attention is given, the slander will not disappear, so more and more athletes freeze their SNS accounts during the Olympics,” he says.

He said, “Sometimes, media people who cover the Olympics are even asked to comment on the situation.

Sometimes, the media who cover the games are also subjected to abusive language from people who appear to be officials of the other country. Another sports newspaper reporter covering the event in the area said, “After Poet Abe lost, the number of players who have frozen their SNS accounts is increasing.

After Abe Uta lost, someone made a crying gesture in front of me.

I was so shocked.

Kumiko Okada (Fujitsu) and Ayane Yanai (Ritsumeikan University), who withdrew from the women’s 20-kilometer walk, also faced the ill will of the Internet.

The Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) explained that the reason for her withdrawal was “to concentrate on the men’s and women’s mixed relay. After the announcement, Yanai wrote in her X

Regarding my decision to withdraw from the 20kmW, I was hurt by the harsh words I received from many people.

《Before the games, I become extra nervous and sensitive. Cheering, not criticism, is a source of strength for us athletes. Criticism hurts the players. I hope that this kind of thing will decrease even a little.

I hope that this kind of thing will decrease. The men’s and women’s mixed relay will be held on August 7.

Other negative comments were made about Kei Nishikori and Naomi Osaka of the men’s and women’s tennis teams, who were helplessly eliminated in the first round, and Tomokazu Zhang and Hina Hayata of the mixed doubles table tennis team, who were considered medal contenders but lost out to the North Korean pair.

In recent years, it has become possible to file a request for disclosure of the sender of a message in response to excessive slander. What is important is that the JOC (Japanese Olympic Committee) and the various associations take firm action, not the individual athletes.

The JOC is said to be monitoring the slander behind the scenes, so it may be time to consider legal action against postings that go too far. The JOC and associations exist for this purpose, so they should be more proactive in taking measures so that athletes can concentrate on their competitions.

Therefore, on July 30, this magazine sent several questions to the JOC public relations office, including “the possibility of taking legal action against malicious slander against individual athletes” and “whether or not monitoring is being carried out,” etc. Although we did not receive individual responses, on August 1, the JOC responded with a “Message from TEAM JAPAN,

We would like to reiterate to our supporters that they should not spread slander and defamation, and that they should observe good manners when posting on SNS and other social networking sites. We will consider reporting insulting or threatening content to the police or taking legal action if it goes too far.

This is an unusual statement for a tournament. It seems as if they are finally getting off their asses.

In this social networking society, the importance of players’ mental health is increasing year by year. The JOC and the various associations must take measures so that the athletes can concentrate on the competition, but we must not forget that what is being questioned above all is the morality of the individual.