The head of the Japanese Olympic delegation, Hidetaka Ito, announced that there has been a significant amount of online slander directed at athletes participating in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) has set up response teams both in Milan and Japan that operate in shifts to monitor this activity continuously. As of February 12, the JOC has made a total of 1,055 deletion requests to various platforms, of which 198 had been successfully removed. Ito emphasized that the volume of incidents has been greater than expected, which indicates a troubling environment for the athletes.

Ito further highlighted the serious implications of such defamatory content, stating that it harms the dignity of the athletes, instills fear, and ultimately diminishes their performance potential. He has made a public plea for these harmful actions to cease. The JOC is also prepared to take legal action in cases of defamation, insults, or threats, showing their commitment to protecting the athletes from online abuse. This situation has raised awareness about the psychological toll that online harassment can take on competitors during high-stakes events like the Olympics.

Additionally, there have been ongoing issues regarding the integrity of the medal and ribbon clasps in the competition, which have reportedly experienced failures, prompting the organizing committee to call on teams from various nations to conduct inspections. This highlights the importance of both physical safety equipment and the mental well-being of the athletes as they prepare for their events in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics from February 6 to 22, 2026.