In a move to protect athletes from digital voyeurism, Team Japan will be sporting some seriously high-tech uniforms at the 2024 Paris Olympics. These aren’t your average jerseys – they’re designed to thwart “peeping toms” armed with infrared cameras.
Mizuno, a Japanese sportswear brand, developed the new uniforms with a special fabric that absorbs infrared light. Kazuya Tajima, from Mizuno’s development team, told Le Monde, “Cameras are becoming increasingly sophisticated.” But these uniforms are one step ahead, making them “nearly wholly opaque” under infrared lenses. This means no more creepy photos ending up on the internet.
This isn’t just about a few photos – it’s a real problem that athletes have been facing. Reiko Shiota, a former Japanese badminton Olympian, has personally dealt with the nightmare of her photos being shared online. Gymnast Airi Hatakeyama has also been a victim, with suggestive images circulating even when she was a minor.
As Mizuno’s Tajima puts it, “The secret photographing of athletes is not a well-known problem.” He hopes that these new uniforms will not only protect athletes but also raise awareness about the issue.
While the new uniforms are a big step forward, Rieko Yamaguchi, an expert on sports and gender, believes there’s still work to be done. “A fundamental problem has yet to be addressed,” she says. “I want people to watch sports with a sense of morality and see players as athletes.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by a family member of a Japanese volleyball player, who said, “I want a system in which only those who made prior applications are allowed to bring in their cameras.”
One thing’s for sure – Team Japan will be stepping onto the world stage not only as athletes but also as pioneers in protecting themselves from digital harassment.
