Sports and technology often combine to create innovative materials. In the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, some Japanese athletes will be wearing outfits made from a special fabric that absorbs infrared light. This fabric is similar to the stealth technology used in aircraft to avoid radars and detectors.
However, the reason behind this new technology is not to enhance performance. It is actually a response to the disturbing trend of peeping Toms using thermal photography to take illicit pictures of female athletes. Thermal cameras can detect heat emitted by objects, such as the human body, and reveal details like body lines or undergarments through thin layers of clothing.
Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 complained about finding infrared camera photos of themselves shared on social media with explicit captions. To combat this issue, athletes and sports company Mizuno have collaborated to develop a special fabric that blocks thermal cameras without adding extra heat to the athletes. The fabric is designed to protect athletes from invasive photography while keeping them cool and comfortable during competitions.
One athlete, Mei Kodama, who tested the new outfit found it to be more comfortable than expected. Mizuno states that incorporating this infrared-blocking fabric into sportswear can help reduce the number of athletes falling victim to illicit infrared photography.
Japan has been grappling with issues of sexualizing women for a long time, including non-consensual photography. The problem is so prevalent that cameras in Japan are required to make a shutter sound to prevent hidden, invasive photography. Signs in public places also warn against such practices.
In sports, female athletes have been targeted with non-consensual photography. Former gymnast Airi Hatakeyama and badminton player Reiko Shiota have experienced disturbing incidents of invasive photography. Some perpetrators have been arrested and prosecuted for taking and sharing inappropriate images of female athletes.
While new clothing technology like infrared-blocking fabric can help address the issue to some extent, it is not a complete solution. Along with implementing stricter measures, like banning photography in certain sports, athletes are also taking matters into their own hands. Japanese gymnast Aiko Sugihara has started a company that produces leotards covering more of the athletes’ bodies to combat suggestive photos on social media.
Additionally, female teams are advocating for more inclusive and less sexualized uniforms. Some committees have been resistant to this change, as seen when Norway’s beach handball team was fined for wearing shorts instead of bikinis. The push for more modest clothing by female athletes reflects the ongoing struggle against sexualization and harassment in sports.
While infrared-blocking clothing is a step in the right direction, it is clear that more comprehensive measures are needed to protect athletes from invasive photography and ensure their safety and dignity in sports. Japan has passed laws criminalizing explicit photography without consent, highlighting the seriousness of the issue and the need for continued efforts to combat it.
