ASICS has once again reaffirmed its dedication to the mental wellbeing of athletes with a groundbreaking initiative designed to shield them from online harassment and cyberbullying.
With recent research highlighting a rise in online abuse targeting athletes, ASICS is taking a proactive stance by providing its sponsored athletes with cutting-edge cybersecurity services to reduce their exposure to such harmful content during major events.
In a significant partnership with data science company Signify, ASICS will offer its athletes access to the AI-driven Threat Matrix service.
This service is engineered to prevent and manage abuse on social media, effectively creating a virtual protective barrier for athletes.
This innovative measure will empower athletes to engage with their audiences without the fear of abuse, thereby fostering a safer online environment.
This initiative is a cornerstone of ASICS’ comprehensive ‘Mind and Body Athlete Support Programme,’ which is dedicated to enhancing both the physical and mental wellbeing of its athletes.
The programme encompasses a variety of services aimed at supporting athletes’ personal and professional development, as well as promoting clean sport practices. ASICS’ holistic approach underscores its commitment to ensuring the overall health of its athletes, both on and off the field.
Olivier Mignon, Global Head of Sports Marketing at ASICS said: “At ASICS, our five letters have meaning. ASICS is an acronym from the Latin phrase Anima Sana In Corpore Sano or ‘a Sound Mind in a Sound Body’.
Which is why caring for the wellbeing of athletes has always been at our core. While we’re proud to support athletes to win and break records, we don’t believe in winning at all costs.
The physical and mental wellbeing of athletes is more important than any podium place.
Our aim is to support athletes to reach their performance goals without compromising their wellbeing. We are acutely aware of the negative impact of online harassment and cyberbullying on mental health, and so are keen to help protect our athletes from online abuse.”
Eilish McColgan, three-times Olympian, Commonwealth Games champion and European Champion medalist, said: “Sadly, online abuse is something that pretty much every elite athlete has to deal with these days.
Personally, I receive a barrage of abusive messages and comments, especially when I compete. That abuse is almost never about my performance but almost always about my body and the way I look.
Over the years, I’ve become accustomed to the comments, and I stand up for myself. But it is not OK.
The constant abuse that athletes face is unacceptable, and it’s getting worse. I’m grateful to have the support of ASICS and this new initiative to help block and remove harmful content, so my mind can focus on the things I love most: running and competing.”
Jonathan Hirshler, Signify CEO said: “Signify is delighted to be supporting ASICS and its athlete family in this way.
The brand values of ASICS and its commitment to protecting the overall wellbeing of athletes chimes closely with our own mission and what we set out to achieve with Threat Matrix.”
ASICS’ initiative marks a significant step forward in protecting athletes’ mental wellbeing, ensuring they can continue to perform at their best without the detrimental impact of online harassment.