When NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of 33 domestic sports organizations that participated in the Tokyo Olympics, about 90% of the respondents said that the spread of the new coronavirus had an effect on the performance of athletes, resulting in lack of practical experience. There were a series of voices pointing out the influence of public opinion against the holding of the Games.
The Olympic Games, which was held for the first time in Corona, reminded us of the fact that the new Corona had an impact on both the technical and mental aspects of the athletes.
All items are posted about the results of the questionnaire survey conducted by NHK.
The influence of the new corona on both the technical and spiritual aspects of the players
After the end of the Tokyo Olympics, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of 33 sports groups in Japan, and received responses from 36 strengthening personnel, including sports in which divisions were divided except for one group that did not respond. I did.
(The response rate for each item is rounded off to the nearest whole number)
When asked if the spread of the new corona affected the performance of athletes,
56%
said it had an effect, 36%
said it had an effect, and it had no effect.
"Ta
" was 6%, and
"No effect" was 3%.
When asked multiple answers to the groups that answered "had an impact" or "had an impact
", 88%
answered
"lack of practical experience" and
"daily inspections and actions". 67% said
"
the burden of corona measures such as restrictions
", 52% said "the training environment could not be secured sufficiently
", 39% said
"
insufficient information on opponents
", and 24% said "decreased motivation due to public opinion against the event". bottom.
While the Japanese team achieved the highest number of 58 medals in history at the Tokyo Olympics, there was also a competition in which the original performance could not be demonstrated, and the new Corona was the background for the technical and mental aspects of the athletes. The reality that had an impact on both of them emerged again.
One "strongest badminton bronze medal in history"
Badminton, which was expected to have a medal rush at the Tokyo tournament and was said to be the "strongest in history," ended up with one bronze medal in mixed doubles as ace candidate Kento Momota lost one after another, including the qualifying defeat. rice field.
Regarding the factors, in this questionnaire, we answered that we were influenced by the new corona in many respects, such as securing a practice environment and lack of practical experience.
The Japanese national badminton team has produced results by strengthening methods such as analyzing the strength of rival players and elaborating tactics by repeating the battles of international competitions and training camps before and after each year.
However, after the Tokyo tournament was postponed, three of the eight scheduled tournaments were canceled, and in the other three tournaments, Momota was judged positive by the inspection just before the expedition, so all the players hurriedly. However, due to the influence of the new Corona, only two tournaments were able to participate by the actual performance.
Kinji Zeniya, Managing Director of Nippon Badminton Association, said, "In addition to not being able to set up a training camp in Japan, I could not participate in international competitions and there was a gap for strengthening. Such a situation affected the information analysis of rivals and the players themselves. I can't deny that I couldn't take part in the tournament with confidence, and I couldn't show my abilities because I was mentally passive. "
It is said that the association has begun to consider ways to promote substantial strengthening even if it becomes difficult to participate in international competitions.
Managing Director Senya said, "Since we faced a big challenge for the future at the Tokyo tournament, we must improve the level of the association, such as how to collect information on rival players. We will be able to revenge at the next Paris tournament. I want to put into practice the strengthening measures. "
Insufficient experience in beach volleyball "Where should I aim?"
Beach volleyball, who answered in a questionnaire that the spread of the new corona had "affected" the performance of athletes, cited "lack of practical experience" as the specific impact.
The pair of Miki Ishii and Megumi Murakami who participated in the Tokyo tournament could not travel abroad in the warm climate in the winter six months before the tournament due to the spread of the new corona infection, and had to practice in Kanagawa prefecture, which is the base. ..
In addition, overseas tours continued to be canceled, and even after being appointed to the Japan national team in May, only two international tournaments were able to participate, so there were not enough opportunities for actual battles with leading overseas players. The Tokyo tournament has arrived.
Regarding the adjustments until the actual tournament, Ishii said, "Sometimes I lost the sense of the game, but I had less to do in the high level of playing against overseas players, and I was not sure where to aim. He recalled that the influence of not being able to gain practical experience had an impact on the mental side.
In addition, even during the Olympic Games, one of the Czech pairs who was scheduled to play in the first match of the qualifying league was infected with the new corona and became a bye.
Ishii says, "I had the most impression that it wasn't an ordinary Olympics, and I honestly wanted to play in the presence of the spectators."
After that, Ishii's pair lost in the repechage and did not advance to the final tournament, finishing the first Olympics.
Ishii is trying to improve his level with the aim of the Paris tournament three years from now, while participating in tournaments held overseas such as Brazil with a new pair after the Tokyo tournament.
Ishii said, "I feel that the games that have been taken for granted until now are not the norm. I'm glad that I'm playing games overseas now, and it's the most motivating thing. One tournament, one tournament. , I want to aim for the top and aim for the medal of the Paris Olympics. "
80% of non-audiences were "affected" and could not get the benefits of holding in their own country
When asked if spectator restrictions such as non-spectators affected athletes and competitions,
36%
said they had an effect, 50%
said they had an effect, and they had an effect. "No" was 8% and
"No effect" was 6%.
When asked about the specific impact of the groups that answered "had an impact" or "had an impact
", 55% said "there was no home advantage held in their own country by cheering", and
"the competition 24% answered "Loss of opportunity for dissemination and appeal
", 6% answered "Decreased motivation and concentration of athletes", 6% answered
"Athletes were able to concentrate on competition"
, and
"
Reduced
anxiety about infection risk". Was 3%.
More than 80% of the respondents said that the restriction of spectators due to the spread of the new coronavirus affected athletes and competitions.
The fact that the Tokyo Olympics were held without spectators except for some venues due to the spread of the new corona infection revealed that the expected benefits of holding the event in their own country could not be obtained.
After the Olympic Games in Corona, the sports world is under pressure to take measures such as holding safe competitions and establishing new ways to watch games.
Expanded live handball distribution
With the influence of the new Corona, spectators are restricted at various sports competitions, and efforts to distribute games online are expanding.
Handball, which participated in the Tokyo Games in the host country frame and won the Olympic Games for the first time in 33 years for boys and 45 years for girls, is a questionnaire. He replied, "Reviewing the way the Games should be and how the spectators should watch the games at Corona."
Due to the influence of the new Corona, the tournament was held without spectators, so the Japan Handball Association expanded the live distribution of the game, and in addition to the international game of the Japanese national team and the Japan Championship, the game will be distributed at the national tournament of junior high school students and high school students. Is starting.
A person in charge of the association said, "I wanted to be able to watch the game live and get support as much as possible in a situation where the audience could not enter. I would like to continue to live stream as much as possible."
Hybrid division used online in karate team battles
Karate, which was adopted in the new competition of the Tokyo Games and won three medals, has begun to search for a new competition method to deal with the corona disaster now that the Olympic Games are over.
At the "group-style" competition held by the Japan Karate Federation in December, where multiple athletes perform the same form at the same time, the venue and other places are connected online, and the athletes perform at the same time. The "Hybrid Division" will be held for the first time.
In the "group form", three people perform the same form at the same time and compete for their accuracy, but usually they move together without yelling.
However, since there is a risk that the performance will be delayed due to the time lag online, the Japan Karate Federation is exploring new competition methods while testing the implementation method, such as the players shouting and performing the performance. ..
By practicing these new competition methods, we hope to prevent the competition from being canceled due to the influence of the new Corona and to have more people watch the game online.
It has been decided that karate will not be held at the next Paris tournament, and it is also a big issue that opportunities for popularization and appeal will decrease, and it is expected that such efforts will lead to expanding the base of the competition.
Even in the December competition, the number of athletes performing in the "Hybrid Division" has been expanded from 2 to 5, making it easier for many people to participate.
Yoshihiro Sasakawa, Vice Chairman of the Japan Karate Federation, said, "We focused on athletes for the Tokyo Olympics, but now that we are in a new era, we want to change our mindset and focus on beginners and take measures. I think karate has a solid image, but it is also important to think flexibly and lower the hurdles. "
Did Infection Control Work?
When asked whether the new corona measures were function in the Tokyo Olympic Games,
44% "worked",
50% "worked if anything",
"did not function if anything" is 6%,
" No organization chose "did not work".
When asked the reasons in multiple answers,
94% of
the groups that answered "worked" or "rather worked
"
were
"inspection of teams such as daily inspections" and
"players such as prohibition of eating out and sightseeing". 82% of
"
Behavioral restrictions",
65% of
"
Inspection of tournament staff and volunteers
", 35% of
"
Infection control in competition venue
", 32% of
"
Infection control while moving buses and vehicles",
"Match" "Treatment of close contacts such as whether or not to participate in the
game
" was 32%, and
"Penalty for breaking the rules of the playbook" was 24%.
Two groups answered that "it didn't work if anything", and the reasons were
"inspection of athletes such as daily inspection",
"restriction of athletes' behavior such as prohibition of eating out and sightseeing", and
"meeting". "Inspection of staff and volunteers" and
"Infection control while moving buses and vehicles" are listed respectively.
(* Each answer is "1", 50%).
Searching for ways to utilize and support the soccer "vaccine / test package"
While taking measures against the infection of the new corona, the movement to regain the original way of sports with spectators is accelerating.
In soccer, we are promoting the relaxation of spectator admission restrictions by utilizing the "vaccine / test package" that proves that we have been vaccinated and that the test was negative.
Audiences who exceeded the upper limit with a dedicated seat for those who were vaccinated twice or who had a negative PCR test in a total of eight games between the Japan National Team and the J League from October 6th to 30th. I put in.
Of these, in the final of the J League Cup held at Saitama Stadium on October 30, in addition to the maximum number of spectators of 10,000, 10,000 dedicated seats for the "vaccine / test package" will be prepared for this dedicated seat. 8756 people entered.
In addition, some of the cheering styles of the spectators have been reviewed in the J League.
In addition to the previously accepted applause and clapping, from mid-November, the act of waving a big flag and waving and turning a towel muffler has been newly accepted.
On the other hand, it is still forbidden to cheer in contact with people, such as cheering aloud, including the finger whistle, high five, and crossing shoulders.
Challenges and lessons faced at the Olympics
After the Tokyo tournament, when asked what the biggest challenges in the future
were, 27% said
"
finding players and training junior generations
" and 23%
"
continuing support for strengthening expenses from the national government
". "Securing income sources by increasing the number of spectators" was 16%,
"Securing and training coaches and other instructors" was 14%,
"Continuous securing of training bases" was 7%, and
"Future utilization of facilities such as competition venues" Was 5%.
After the Olympics held in their own country, there were concerns about how to continue to strengthen athletes.
Of the issues that emerged at the Tokyo Olympics, when asked what they thought was the most urgent countermeasure
, 49% said,
"
Reviewing the way the tournament should be and how the spectators should watch the game at Corona
,
" and
"Slandering on SNS." 27%,
"Realization of gender equality and diversity" was 8%, and
"Rules for athletes' protests and message transmission" were 3%.
After the Tokyo Games, which became the summer Olympics held in Japan for the first time in 57 years, was held in an unusual manner due to the corona disaster, the Japanese sports world will be asked how to connect the lessons and challenges in the future. Will be.
Softball strengthening cost reduction "break away from the Olympics request"
Softball, which answered in the questionnaire that the most important issue in the future is "continuous support for strengthening costs from the national government," will be excluded from the competition at the Paris tournament three years later, and the strengthening costs are expected to be reduced. is.
For softball aiming to revive at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, how to maintain international competitiveness in the meantime is said to be the biggest challenge.
Therefore, the competition groups have begun to go around various companies to gather sponsors and secure financial resources for strengthening athletes while the heat of winning the gold medal at the Tokyo tournament has not cooled down.
Shinsuke Yabata, Managing Director of the Japan Softball Association, said, "I don't know if I can make a 100% revival at the next Olympics in Paris, so I have to see the competitiveness that is completely different from the nature of relying on the Olympics. It's only natural that we have to raise funds and work together. "
On the other hand, the players are also raising a sense of crisis.
Pitcher Yukiko Ueno, the ace of the Japanese national team, is concerned about the future softball world, saying, "Because I know the time when the 2008 Beijing Games were over and I was excluded from the Olympic Games and it was quiet, how long will I be able to withstand this time?" Indicates.
From next spring, a new league closely related to the region will be launched for softball, expanding the base of the competitive population and expanding the number of fans.
Regarding this, pitcher Ueno said, "I'm worried about how much attention will be paid to the new league, but I have to make something that will attract attention. I want to start from scratch and convey the appeal firmly." He emphasized the importance of communicating the charm of.
Japan Sports Agency Secretary Murofushi "Continuity of strengthening is important"
The Japan Sports Agency has been increasing the budget year by year in order to improve competitiveness for the Tokyo Games, but the focus is on how far the reinforcement costs can be maintained in the future.
Regarding this, Mr. Murofushi, Secretary of the Japan Sports Agency, said, "We were able to achieve excellent results at the Tokyo Games, but we need to think from a long-term perspective and aim for sustainable competitiveness improvement, rather than making this transient. There is, "he said, showing the recognition that continuity of strengthening is important.
The Japan Sports Agency will continue to strengthen the strengthening costs, which increased from 7.4 billion yen in 2015 to 10.3 billion yen this year, toward the Paris tournament three years later and the Los Angeles tournament seven years later. As necessary, we have included the same level as this year in the budget request for next year.
Mr. Murofushi said, "I think there is a part that depends on the national budget, but it is also necessary for each competition group to make its own profits and to use it for strengthening and training, and for that reason, the competition It is important to expand the base, "he said, saying that he would like to continue to support the national government and strengthen the management of athletic organizations.
Expert "Continuing the challenge of corona damage such as digital utilization"
Regarding the impact of the limited audience at the Tokyo Games, Professor Hirotaka Matsuoka of Waseda University's Faculty of Sport Sciences, who specializes in sports management, said, "The children who were planning to go to the Olympics lost the opportunity. It was a shame because it would have a big impact on the children's subsequent involvement in sports. "
Regarding the fact that the way sports competitions and watching games are changing due to the influence of the new corona, "Sports are based on being done on the spot, whether you look at them or not, and that is of great value. However, it is a plus that the sports world has various tools such as digital utilization on that foundation. "
On top of that, he said, "I think that the competition group, which has a small number of athletes and a small number of spectators, did not have the energy to tackle various things, but the situation was forced to do by the corona disaster, and I took on a new challenge. I will return to peacetime in the future. However, I hope that by continuing to make use of it, it will lead to an increase in sports fans. "
After the Tokyo Games, which was the first Olympic Games in Corona, the sports world is under pressure to implement safe competitions and establish new ways to watch games.