In a pioneering move reflecting the digital transformation in sports crisis management, the Japanese delegation participating in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics resorted to advanced technological solutions to confront an invisible yet highly impactful challenge: cyberbullying. The delegation faced an unprecedented wave of digital attacks, with nearly 62,000 abusive posts targeting athletes and delegation members detected, necessitating immediate intervention using artificial intelligence technologies.
Historical context: From Tokyo 2020 to Milan 2026
This move didn't come out of nowhere; it's the culmination of painful experiences the international sports community has endured in recent years. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marked a pivotal turning point in global awareness of the importance of athletes' mental health, after the withdrawals of world-class athletes highlighted the immense pressure exerted by the public through social media platforms. The current Japanese initiative is a practical response to these challenges, extending protection beyond physical safety in stadiums to encompass "digital security" and the mental well-being of competitors.
Protection mechanism: A specialized team and advanced technologies
To ensure a safe environment, the Japanese Olympic Committee formed a specialized task force of 22 members, comprising leading legal and technical experts working around the clock between Italy and Japan. This team relies primarily on artificial intelligence algorithms to detect and analyze offensive content as soon as it is posted. In close collaboration with tech giants like Meta and Yahoo! Line, immediate removal requests are submitted for posts that violate the standards.
According to official statistics, the removal requests so far have included 1,055 posts classified as high-risk, and the team has already successfully deleted 198 of them. These actions come after monitoring systems recorded 62,000 hostile comments and posts since January 18, reflecting the extent of the psychological pressure exerted on the players.
Human and sporting impact
These attacks went beyond typical sports criticism, reaching the level of direct psychological abuse. This was clearly demonstrated in the case of a Japanese athlete who was subjected to a severe cyberattack while simultaneously suffering an injury that forced him to withdraw from competition. Instead of support, he faced a barrage of hurtful comments. In this regard, Hidehito Ito, head of the Japanese delegation, emphasized during a press conference in Milan that "hurtful words drain the energy of athletes and violate their human dignity," stressing that protecting the focus of the players is an integral part of fair competition.
Dimensions of the step and its future impact
This initiative has international significance that extends far beyond the Japanese delegation; it sets a new standard for how sports federations protect their athletes in the digital age. Other countries are expected to follow Japan's lead in future championships, which could prompt the International Olympic Committee to adopt standardized protocols for cybersecurity and mental health protection, thereby strengthening the integrity of sport and preserving the dignity of participants in global events.
