Photo/Illutration Seven groups, including the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japan Sport Association, issue a statement in November that describes sneak recording of athletes, misuse of photos and videos, and malicious postings on social media as “despicable acts.” (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee is formally banning people at competition venues from photographing or filming athletes for the purpose of sexually harassing them.

The organizing committee is also asking people to let host members check their footage or images if requested.

“I was worried about this kind of harassment when I was an athlete,” Mikako Kotani, an Olympic bronze medalist in synchronized swimming, said at a news conference.

Kotani is the organizing committee’s sports director and is leading a team to promote gender equality.

“It is a huge step to write this kind of harassment down as a clearly prohibited activity. I would like to ensure this information is disseminated to the public.”

The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee reported the new rules at a March 22 board meeting.

It came after a series of complaints about athletes being sexually harassed through photos or videos.

Last summer, a female athlete complained to the Japan Association of Athletics Federations that photos were taken of her with a sexual intent during a competition and then posted on social media with an obscene message. 

Seven groups, including the Japanese Olympic Committee, issued a statement in November against these sorts of “despicable acts,” such as sneakily making voyeuristic recordings of athletes, “misusing” photos or videos, and making “malicious” social media posts.

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