The NHK Broadcasting Center is seen in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward in this file photo taken on April 13, 2021. (Mainichi Junichi Sasaki)

       TOKYO -- Public broadcaster NHK decided not to air three Winter Olympic curling qualification events in the Netherlands, on the grounds that ads for a company that is believed to sell adult products were on display at the rink, possibly violating NHK's broadcasting guidelines.

       The qualification matches were due to air live on NHK's BS1 channel on Dec. 5 and 6.

       According to NHK, the ads were for a company in the Netherlands. If they were included in relay footage, it was possible it would violate guidelines on the broadcaster's commitment to good taste and moderation and on careful consideration regarding content that could have an effect on young people. Checks were deemed necessary and NHK decided not to air the live footage.

       The final qualification events will be held in the Netherlands until Dec. 18, but the outlook for future broadcasts remains undecided.

       "We will continue to reach out to the World Curling Federation sponsoring the events to achieve a situation in which we can air footage as soon as possible," a representative of the broadcaster said.

       (Japanese original by Yuka Matsubara, Cultural News Department)

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