In an innovative move for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Japanese athletes will wear uniforms designed to block infrared cameras that highlight athletes' underwear or even their bodies. Mizuno has developed these infrared light-absorbing outfits.
Japanese athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics will wear uniforms designed to block infrared cameras.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Shielding Japanese Athletes From Infrared Cameras
Athletes complained to the Japanese Olympic Committee in 2020 after discovering infrared camera "photos of themselves shared on social media with sexually explicit captions," The Japan Times reported.
Since then, Mizuno, Sumitomo Metal Mining, and Kyodo Printing have co-developed a new fabric that is stretchable enough to be used in athletic uniforms while protecting athletes.
Le Monde reported that Japan's volleyball, track and field, table tennis, and other teams will use these unique uniforms. The fabric works similarly to stealth aircraft by absorbing and deflecting infrared light, making it difficult for infrared cameras and sensors to detect the athletes.
Mizuno's development team member Kazuya Tajima believes that using this new fabric by top athletes will raise awareness about the unacceptability of voyeurism.
Mizuno decided to develop this fabric because cameras are getting more advanced, and infrared photography can expose underwear and bodies beneath swimsuits, shorts, or a thin layer of clothing.
In tests conducted by Mizuno, a black "C" printed beneath a layer of "Game uniform fabric" and the new infrared-absorbing fabric was almost completely hidden when photographed with an infrared camera.
While additional layers of the new fabric would offer even better protection, the uniforms must balance privacy and comfort due to athletes' concerns about the expected heat at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. The goal is to protect athletes from invasive photography while ensuring they remain cool and comfortable.
Some devices have unexpectedly shown how infrared sensing in night vision goggles and thermal cameras can expose hidden details. For example, the OnePlus 8 Pro's "Photochrom" color filter acted like X-ray vision on the thin casing of an Apple TV.
When applied to humans, infrared photography can reveal the contours of a person's body or undergarments under light clothing, such as those worn by athletes.
Japan's innovative approach to advanced fabric technology marks a significant step forward. As technological capabilities evolve, protecting athletes' privacy remains crucial, underscoring the ongoing need for both innovation and sensitivity in sports apparel design.
This development comes as part of a broader effort to fight against explicit photography of female athletes, which can have severe consequences for the victims.
Reiko Shiota, a badminton player who competed in the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics, experienced having photos of her breasts and lower body shared widely online. Thus, the cameras bothered her during matches, even though she tried to ignore the camera shutters aimed at her chest or bottom.
Airi Hatakeyama, a rhythmic gymnast for Japan in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, was shocked to discover that some people were sharing suggestive photos of her, sexualizing her while she was still a minor.
Since 2004, the gymnastics federation has prohibited photography during competitions and deployed staff to catch violators.
