Thai Sports Authority Warns Athletes on Social Media Use in Japan
Thailand's Sports Authority has warned athletes competing at Japan's 2026 Asian Games to avoid social media posts that breach copyright, violate organizer rules, or break Japanese law, including live streams and defamatory content.
The Sports Authority of Thailand has instructed Thai athletes and officials competing at the 20th Asian Games to exercise caution on social media, prohibiting live streams, video uploads that risk copyright infringement, and destructive posts that violate organizer rules or Japanese law.
Dr. Kongsakd Yodmanee, director of the Sports Authority of Thailand, has warned Thailand's national sports teams and officials competing at the 20th Asian Games from September 19 to October 4, 2026 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He stressed the need for heightened awareness when using social media to avoid violating organizer regulations or breaking Japan's strict laws.
The authority has coordinated with various sports associations to instruct athletes, coaches, and officials to refrain from posting defamatory content or engaging in any online behavior that violates organizer rules or Japanese law. This includes live streaming, recording videos or images that infringe on competition copyright, and posting non-constructive, degrading, or disrespectful content toward the host country and fellow competitors. Japan has strict laws governing privacy rights and online defamation.
Yodmanee noted that Thai athletes have historically demonstrated discipline and respect for host countries, and he expresses confidence they will not violate any laws or organizer measures. However, he acknowledged that athletes will inevitably face criticism online and suggested they ignore negative commentary to maintain focus on their competitions.
For the 20th Asian Games and 5th Asian Para Games, the Japanese hosts have partnered with global social media platforms to deploy AI systems and monitoring teams to delete posts and block accounts engaging in cyberbullying around the clock, protecting athletes' mental health while enforcing strict copyright controls in the digital age.
