More than 16,000 people from the Olympic media came to Japan to balance coverage and infection control

[NHK] As the opening of the Tokyo Olympics approaches on the 23rd, overseas media people are coming to Japan one after another. The total number is over 16,000 ...

As the opening of the Tokyo Olympics approaches on the 23rd, overseas media people are also coming to Japan one after another.

The total number is expected to reach more than 16,000, and the issue is how thoroughly we can take measures against the infection of the new coronavirus while conducting interviews.

▽ Scheduled entry of media personnel ▽

What are the rules for interviews?

▽ Overseas media interviewed with various ideas

▽ Editing work is remote

▽ Voices of media people who came to Japan

▽ How do sports journalists see?

About 2000 companies from about 200 countries and regions come to Japan

With the opening of the Olympic Games just around the corner, media representatives from around the world are visiting the IBC (International Broadcast Center), which is the base for interviews in each country, set up at "Tokyo Big Sight" in Koto-ku, Tokyo. I will.

According to the Games Organizing Committee, about 2,000 companies from about 200 countries and regions have visited Japan, and the number of media personnel is expected to reach more than 16,000 as of the 21st of last month.

In addition, 70% to 80% of domestic and foreign media personnel are expected to be vaccinated by the convention.

Media personnel are required to take action based on the "playbook" that summarizes the rules necessary to prevent infection of the new corona. As a general rule, public transportation cannot be used for 14 days after entering Japan, and the competition venue and pre-submitted duties It has been decided that you can only go first.

On the other hand, about 10 media in the United States have sent a letter of protest jointly to the Organizing Committee, etc., saying that "coverage is restricted", and there is some opposition to such behavior restrictions.

In response, the Organizing Committee said, "Given the current situation, very strict measures are required, which is important for all participants and residents of Japan. Freedom of coverage is respected and possible. We will make the interviews as smooth as possible. ”The issue is whether we can balance the interview activities with thorough infection control.

What is a playbook for the media?

The "Playbook" is a guidebook by the IOC and the Games Organizing Committee that summarizes the rules necessary to prevent the infection of the new corona for each athlete and person involved in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Of these, nearly 70 pages are for media personnel, and rules for various situations such as inspection and quarantine after entering Japan, infection control, and coverage methods are stipulated.

Specifically,

▽ Twice inspections within 96 hours before leaving Japan

▽

You cannot use public transportation for 14 days after entering Japan

, and

you can only go to the competition venue or the business destination you submitted in advance. That,

▽ During your stay in Japan, you will be able to grasp your behavior by using the GPS function of your smartphone.

On top of that, the frequency of inspections is detailed for each role of the media personnel, and daily inspections are required for photographers who are close to the athletes and who are active in the competition area.

In addition, media personnel who may come into contact with athletes are required to be inspected once every four days, and even those who do not have the opportunity to come into contact with them are required to be inspected once every seven days.

It is clearly stated that if you violate the rules, you may be subject to fines in addition to disqualification and deportation.

"Advance team" interviews in the city Pay close attention to infection control

Overseas media are promoting coverage activities while making various efforts.

Last month, Agence France-Presse organized an "advance corps" of about 20 people who will cover the city instead of the competition, out of the 150 staff members who are interviewing in Japan.

If you come to Japan after July when the "Playbook" starts operating, you will be obliged to submit an activity plan for 14 days after entering Japan, and the range of activities during that period will be limited to accommodations and competition venues, so you will be in the city This is because the time to cover is reduced.

Vincent Amalvi, who oversees the interview team, explains that the aim of forming the "advance team" is "to cover how Japanese people perceive the Olympics."

Video producer Sarah Lai, one of the "advance teams", came to Japan from Hong Kong in the middle of last month. Before coming to Japan, I was vaccinated twice with the new corona vaccine, and after 14 days of quarantine at an accommodation in Japan, I can freely cover the city from this month.

In the middle of this month, I took the subway to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to cover the preparations for the Olympics, and photographed posters and other items in the surrounding area. In the interview, he always wears a mask and diligently disinfects his hands with the disinfectant he carries with him.

In addition, we are paying close attention to infection control, such as entering body temperature and physical condition into the smartphone app provided by the Organizing Committee every day, and taking out meals during the busy daytime.

Lai said, "Because it's a different Olympic Games, we can't publish the same news as usual. Finding a special topic is a challenge for us."

AFP News said that the "advance team" covering the city and other members covering the competition are taking different actions so that they do not interact with each other. The risk for people is close to zero. "

Australian TV station dispatch to one-third of schedule edited by local staff

Seven Network, an Australian television station, is developing an interview base at the IBC = International Broadcast Center in Koto-ku, Tokyo.

To prevent infection, staff seats are spaced so that they do not sit facing each other, and check sheets are placed on the wall to check whether each has performed the regular virus tests required by the "Playbook". It overhangs.

Also, in order to reduce the risk of infection, the number of staff dispatched to Japan will be reduced from the originally planned 120 to 40, which is one-third, and the video shot will be edited by staff in Australia instead of Japan. I am doing it.

Chris Reason, a reporter who has covered 10 Olympic games so far while the range of activities is limited, said about the number of infected people in Tokyo and the schedule of the Australian national team based on the information collected by telephone and the Internet. , I recorded the report before IBC.

Chris said, "This is the first time I've had an experience like this tournament. Besides covering the competition, I'm paying attention to how Japan will respond to and confront the challenges of the new Corona."

Various voices from overseas media who came to Japan

Various voices were heard from overseas media who came to Japan to cover the Olympics.

A reporter from the Australian television station Seven Network reported that the number of people infected with the new coronavirus in Tokyo exceeded 1,000 a day, and the sevens rugby team staff of the Russian Olympic Committee was infected. He also introduced that other members were isolated at the hotel.

In addition, the head of coverage of the French news agency said, "The coverage of this tournament, where many venues are unattended, is interesting because it is a completely different experience. How will the preparations for the opening proceed? I would like to convey how Japanese people perceive the Olympics. "

Meanwhile, a reporter from Australian television station Nine Network said, "I want all the competitions to go smoothly. It was a very difficult year for the world, but I think the Olympics can bring people together. I'm really looking forward to the opening. I was talking.

Expert "The perspective of the media has a great influence on the impression of Japan.

Atsushi Ikushima, a sports journalist who has experience in covering seven Olympic games in summer and winter, said that it is important not only to report on the results of the Olympics, but also to verify the operation of the Games and tell about the host city. I will point out.

On top of that, regarding this tournament to be held in Corona, it is not hard to imagine that many journalists are under stress when the code of conduct is set. How Japan will run the Olympic Games. It is necessary for overseas media to report what the city looks like, so I can imagine that there will be a stress there. "

Under such circumstances, regarding the role of overseas media, "Since audiences from overseas do not post on SNS, there is no doubt that the perspective of the media will have a great influence on the impression of Japan and the impression of Tokyo. It's a plus for Tokyo to see how they see it, so I want to welcome them with a flat feeling without looking too white, "he pointed out its importance.

He added, "Even if you are a journalist who has interviewed many times, this is the first time you have interviewed in such an inconvenient environment, and I think that you will negotiate various things with the standard up to the last time as a shield. I think that letting them become the property of the competition management of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which in turn will lead to ideas for the management of international competitions in the future, "he said. He acknowledged that it could be a catalyst for creating new forms of sporting events.