When NHK conducted a questionnaire survey to the competition group to be held at the Tokyo Olympics, which is about to start six months later, and asked about the impact of the new coronavirus on the athlete's strengthening plan, the answer was that the athlete's motivation declined in addition to lack of actual competition and practice. Was one after another.
Some people said that the players were worried about the fact that public opinion was divided between the pros and cons of this summer's tournament, and the fact that the view of concern about the tournament was affecting the players became clear. ..
From last month to this month, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey on the current status of designated athletes and designated athletes for the 33 athletes to be held at the Tokyo Games, before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, and all 33 athletes. We received responses from 42 strengthening staff, including competitions in which divisions are divided.
When asked about the impact of the new coronavirus on the player strengthening plan with multiple answers, "lack of practical experience / practice" was the most common at 74%, followed by "cannot be compared with rival players" at 43%. Most of the issues were "declining player motivation", which was 38%.
Furthermore, when asked about the impact of public opinion's pros and cons on holding the Olympic Games this year, 26% said they had an impact, 19% said they had no impact, and 55% said they didn't know. ..
The specific reasons for "affecting" are "it is unclear whether the event will be held and it gives the athletes anxiety", "I feel that they are not expected of the Olympics", and "I am worried about aiming for the Olympics". There was also an answer such as "It will be", and it became clear that the current situation where there are widespread concerns about holding this summer's Games has a psychological effect on the athletes.
How to create an environment where athletes can face the tournament in a better condition both technically and mentally has become a major issue for the remaining six months, including management such as infection control.
Ken Terauchi, the representative of the swimmer, is ...
It is one of the competitions that answered that the pros and cons of public opinion are divided in the questionnaire and that it has an influence.
Ken Terauchi, who has been appointed as the representative of the Tokyo Olympics, is 40 years old from Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, and has participated in the Olympics five times so far.
In preparation for the Tokyo tournament, in July, I was appointed as the earliest Japanese player to be a representative in the men's synchro board diving, and then I was appointed as a representative in the men's board diving.
Terauchi, who responded online to NHK's interview before the opening of the Tokyo tournament, said, "There are restrictions on wearing masks and the number of people and time, as before, regarding the impact of the spread of infection on strengthening. It is certain that it is not an environment where you can practice as a matter of course, and it is difficult for you to make the final push at an overseas training camp every year. "
On top of that, he said, "I don't have the ability to improve my skills the more I practice like a teenager, so I've been aiming to improve my skills a little. That's been done well in the past year." He revealed that he had been practicing while devising in the environment.
And regarding the harsh public opinion that can be said to be a "headwind" to the holding of this year's Games, "I think it is a very natural idea. I hope that the Olympic Games will be held as a player, but first of all, human life is prioritized. Medical care is not tight. The main premise is to cooperate toward such a place, and after overcoming it, there will be an Olympic Games. "
On the other hand, he said, "I may need immeasurable adjustments, but I want them to do it. I hope that everyone will be able to do their best in even the most difficult situations after seeing the tournament." , Revealed a complicated chest.
He added, "If the Olympics are gone, I can only accept that there is nothing that isn't there. It's my job to find hope so that junior athletes don't panic."
In addition, Terauchi recalled that he was infected with the new coronavirus in August last year, saying, "I was infected while I was at home for a long time, refraining from going out as much as possible. I think there are many people who become seriously ill. I'm only thinking about hoping that fewer people will die now. "
Hitomi Niiya, a representative of the 10000m track and field women, is ...
Hitomi Niiya, a 32-year-old who has been nominated as the representative of the Tokyo Olympics at 10,000 meters for track and field women, broke the Japanese record for the first time in 18 years and won the Japan Championship last month, and was appointed as the second Olympic representative for the first time in two tournaments. did.
Shintani strongly feels the harsh public opinion that can be said to be a "headwind" for this year's Tokyo tournament, and in an interview with NHK, "I want to do it as an athlete. I don't want to do it as a person. I agree with it as an athlete, but as a nation. I feel the opposite. "
As one of the people, he said, "I honestly think that life is more important than the Olympics."
Shintani believes that the competition can only be continued if there are people who have a high level of "professionalism" and support, who always say that "running is a job", and he is cautious about holding the event in the current situation where people are worried. It penetrates.
Shintani said, "The appeal of sports is that people who are watching have dreams and get energized. I want to remember that again and we will respond to it," he said, actively promoting his own running and way of life. I was hoping that the number of people who would be willing to hold the event would increase as much as possible.
Bicycle BMX representative unofficial decision Ryumu Nakamura ...
Rinmu Nakamura of BMX Freestyle Park, a bicycle that was added to the new event at the Tokyo Olympics, was appointed as a representative in June last year.
Nakamura, who was interviewed by NHK online before the opening of the Tokyo Games, said, "Because of this situation, the pros and cons of this summer's Games are divided due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. It's hard to say, but if the Olympics are held safely, I want to show Japanese people a good ride. I want to meet overseas players, so I want Corona to fit in first. "
Nakamura broke his left heel in October last year and just resumed training at a base in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture earlier this month. "It was nice to ride a bicycle for the first time in a long time. It looks like I'm riding someone else's bicycle. But I felt like I had only BMX. "
Consider mental follow-up for softball players
In softball, one of the competitions that answered that the pros and cons of public opinion are divided in the questionnaire, it is said that players are raising anxiety.
Since it has been decided that softball, which is expected to win a gold medal at the Tokyo tournament, will not be held at the next Paris tournament, Shinsuke Yabata, general manager of the Japan national team, said, "Players can hold a once-in-a-lifetime festival. I have a special feeling that I can do it, so I have a lot of anxiety. "
Therefore, in the competition group, we follow the mental aspects of the athletes by creating a place where all the members of the Japanese national team can talk online once a week, and by having them write down their anxieties and worries in addition to the training content and submit it. It means that they are also considering doing it.
Yabata, general manager of the strengthening division, said, "We have no choice but to communicate with the players who have anxiety and develop positive feelings."
The Japanese national softball team has not been able to play an external match for over a year due to the cancellation of their overseas expedition, and the training camp, which incorporates high-level practice such as hitting a male player's ball, received a state of emergency this month. "Insufficient practical experience and practice" is also a major issue, such as the cancellation of the training camp scheduled in Kochi.
Measures that emphasize the mental support of athletes in the United States
In order to support athletes who are struggling to maintain their motivation due to the postponement of the Olympic Games, measures are being taken in the United States with a particular emphasis on the mental support of athletes.
In a questionnaire survey conducted by the IOC = International Olympic Committee on about 4,000 athletes last May after the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics, about half answered that it was difficult to maintain motivation.
The USOPC = American Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which plans to send a team of 550 to 600 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics, has mental health in a special work team that cares for the mental aspects of athletes after the postponement of the Tokyo Games has been decided. We have hired a new specialist.
We also provide 24-hour counseling to athletes by telephone, etc., and hold regular meetings with staff such as coaches to take care of athletes who are depressed or lose sight of their goals due to postponement of the tournament. I did.
So far, more than 4000 athletes have used counseling.
USOPC CEO Sarah Hirschland said at a telephone conference last month that "I feel it is very important for athletes to hold the tournament. At this point, we are preparing for a positive tournament." I'm talking.
Expert “Information for players”
Professor Yoshiyuki Mano of Waseda University School of Sport Sciences said, "While there is an opinion that it may be difficult to hold the Olympic Games, I think it is inevitable that athletes will feel guilty about concentrating on sports." After that, he said, "Even if there are" no spectators ", there can be no" no athletes "in the Olympics, so the biggest concern is that the athletes themselves do not want to participate in the Olympics." I'm worried.
He added, "Sports may not be as essential as medical care, but as people around the world are mentally, physically and economically exhausted by the corona, they are energized by their exhausted minds. I think that one of the things that gives is the Olympics, so I want the athletes to switch their minds to help them and do their best. "
And for the holding of the tournament, "I think that there are many players practicing with anxiety because there is a general lack of information for athletes, but to hold it, we will proceed with these steps. By clearly showing, the athletes can concentrate on the competition with peace of mind. "