Gymnast Daiki Hashimoto's Twitter account and the statement he uploaded to it are seen on July 30, 2021. (Mainichi/Hayato Matsui)

       TOKYO -- Japan's athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are falling victim to a spate of social media abuse, with a large part of the anger from people claiming the scoring competitions are unfair.

       The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is taking the issue seriously, and considering asking social media companies to restrict inappropriate online posts. It has also said it will enhance consultation provisions for athletes' mental care.

       When asked about the online abuse, gymnast Mai Murakami, 24, hesitated over how to respond. She finished in fifth at the women's individual all-around event finals at Ariake Gymnastics Center in Tokyo on July 29.

       "I don't know if I should say this, but ... Sometimes I see comments I dislike," she said. "I feel very sad these people are there. Of course, I know some people oppose (holding the Olympics) and others support me. (Negative opinions) on their own come into my view." Murakami also spoke with tears in her eyes about the abuse she had received on her Instagram account opened in 2020.

       In gymnastics, Daiki Hashimoto, 19, became the youngest gold medal winner in the history of the men's individual all-around event on July 28. He was also subject to many social media comments criticizing his routine's score, especially his "Lopez" vault technique -- a Kasamatsu stretched with 2/1 twists -- which earned a high execution score of 9.200 out of 10.

       The International Gymnastics Federation issued a rare statement that went into detail including factors for point deductions and said his score is "correct in regards to the Code of Points, and so is the final ranking."

       Hashimoto tweeted on the night of July 29: "I think it is part of sports' appeal that makes people praise each other and try to improve by learning from others. I hope more people will recognize and praise athletes who strive in representing their country, and fewer people will commit acts considered slander."

       Table tennis player Jun Mizutani, 32, who won gold in the mixed doubles -- a new Olympic event -- with Mima Ito by defeating a Chinese team. He revealed he received direct messages on Twitter telling him to "disappear", among other writing, though he did not say which country the messages came from. Though he later wrote defiantly: "I'm so immune my feelings don't get hurt," the post was later deleted.

       Kanoa Igarashi, 23, silver medalist in the newly-added men's surfing event, received Instagram comments in Portuguese that were negative about scoring. Igarashi faced Brazilian surfers in the semifinal and final. Some of the were encouraging, such as "Don't worry," from a person who said they are Brazilian.

       Social media abuse of athletes has become a serious issue worldwide, leading to concern for their mental health. The IOC Athletes' Commission Chairperson Kirsty Coventry said at a July 29 Tokyo news conference that she thinks officials can ask service providers to put strict restrictions on slander targeting athletes at sports events.

       The IOC identifies social media abuse and stress from not being able to secure practice space due to the pandemic's effects as factors in mental and physical health issues for athletes. In response, it has launched a round-the-clock consultation service by phone, email and other means in over 70 languages for athletes in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

       (Japanese original by Miaki Tsuburaya and Shun Iwakabe, Sports News Department)

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