"Don't Want to Be Photographed Nude" Japanese Athletes Wearing See-Through Prevention Uniforms at the Olympics

Recent Infrared Cameras Included... Equipment Advancement
"Developing New Uniform Materials to Combat Illegal Filming"

Japanese national team athletes participating in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics will wear uniforms made from new materials. These are known to be special uniforms designed to prevent illegal filming of the athletes.

On the 29th (Korean time), British newspaper The Independent and American outlet Business Insider reported that the Japanese women's track and field, table tennis, and volleyball teams will wear uniforms made from special fabrics at the Paris Olympics, stating, "This is a measure to counter illegal filming attempts using cameras."

The Japan Times reported, "After athletes raised complaints to the Japanese Olympic Committee about such photos being shared on some social media (SNS), the development of related technology began."

Japanese Women's National Volleyball Team Players
Photo by Yonhap News

The sports brand Mizuno, responsible for producing the uniforms, explained, "These uniforms were specially made to combat the production and distribution of exposing photos of athletes on some adult websites."

They added, "Recently, not only visible light cameras but also infrared cameras have been used, causing athletes to become victims of photos revealing their underwear and bodies beneath the uniforms."

Kazuya Tajima from Mizuno's development team said in an interview with French media Le Monde, "I hope the awareness that such acts against top athletes are unacceptable spreads throughout society," and expressed hope that "these uniforms will protect the athletes and allow them to focus on their competitions."

Meanwhile, The Independent reported, "According to statistics from the Japanese National Police Agency, the number of arrests for illegal camera filming crimes has increased from 1,930 cases ten years ago to over 5,000."