VIDEO SHOWS: LEADERS OF TEAM JAPAN SPEAKING ABOUT MEDAL GOAL AND ONLINE DEFAMATION PREVENTION FOR MILANO-CORTINA 2026 WINTER OLYMPICS / SOUNDBITES FROM TEAM JAPAN’S CHEF DE MISSION HIDEHITO ITO, DEPUTY CHEF DE MISSION, MASAHIKO HARADA AND GENERAL MANAGER, NAOYA YANAGIYA FULL SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. TEAM JAPAN’S CHEF DE MISSION HIDEHITO ITO (RIGHT) AND DEPUTY CHEF DE MISSION MASAHIKO HARADA (LEFT) ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE 2. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN’S CHEF DE MISSION, HIDEHITO ITO, SAYING: "We’re received a lot of very encouraging information, so I feel there’s plenty of reason for optimism. We believe that good results will follow when the athletes are able to perform at their very best. From our point of view, we would like to do everything we can to support the athletes so that they can win more medals to surpass the best record at the previous Beijing (Winter) Games.” 4. TEAM JAPAN OFFICIALS LISTENING TO REPORTER’S QUESTION 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN’S CHEF DE MISSION, HIDEHITO ITO, SAYING: "Team Japan registered for six of the eight sports. Unfortunately, we were unable to participate in biathlon, and ski mountaineering. In total, the delegation consists of 281 people: 120 athletes – 47 men and 73 women, and 161 staff, including team managers and coaches.” 6. HARADA SPEAKING 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN’S DEPUTY CHEF DE MISSION, MASAHIKO HARADA, SAYING: "We have athletes who are aiming to defend their titles (in ski jumping), and more recently, young athletes have been performing beyond expectations and dominating on the world stage. I think these athletes will be at the center of the competitions, and proud to say that they are Japanese athletes. I believe it will be an extremely exciting set of individual and team events, and I’m really looking forward to it.” 8. PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN’S CHEF DE MISSION, HIDEHITO ITO, SAYING: “For the first time, we have a special team dedicated to address online harassment and defamation, with staff stationed both in Japan and in Milan. During the Games, this team will identify abusive or defamatory online posts involving athletes and officials at an early stage, monitor and coordinate with each social media platform to request prompt delete of the (defamatory) content, and provide support to the athletes.” 9. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN GENERAL MANAGER, NAOYA YANAGIYA, SAYING: "Through the Paris Games, the World Athletics Championships, and now the Milan Cortina Winter Games, we have been gaining experience and making adjustments along the way (to address social media defamation issues). We plan to coordinate and stay in close contact with IOC’s anti-harassment team to adjust our approach in this Winter Games.” 11. ITO AND HARADA STANDING UP AND BOWING
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