Clarisse Agbegnenou of France celebrates after winning her match against a disappointed Miku Takaichi of Japan during the judo mixed team final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. | REUTERS
Aug 6, 2026
Japan’s athletes have thrilled sports fans around the world with memorable victories and heartbreaking defeats in sports as varied as soccer, tennis, volleyball, figure skating, gymnastics, swimming and wrestling. Those moments of triumph do not come easily. They are built on years of disciplined training, often beginning in childhood.
At its best, that journey should provide children with the joy of play and competition, along with opportunities for physical, mental and personal growth. At Japanese sporting events, you’ll often hear fans shouting Ganbare! (“Do your best!“) or Donmai! (“Don’t mind!“) after a mistake — cheers that celebrate perseverance rather than perfection. Too often, however, that spirit disappears behind the scenes. Many young athletes instead encounter physical, verbal and even sexual abuse in the very environments meant to help them develop.
That is why Aug. 8, Safe Sport Day, matters. It is a global moment to reaffirm that sport should be safe, inclusive and accountable for everyone, including children, women and people with disabilities. Established in 2020 through the international safeguarding movement, the day is now marked by the International Olympic Committee as well as organizations working to protect athletes worldwide.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
