Hirohiko Saso: Knowing the Athlete, Knowing Oneself

2018/06/26

I manage a company whose primary business includes inbound sports-specialized projects, sports event consulting, and organic tourism farming. Most recently, at the request of the Japan Skating Federation for figure skating general affairs, I accompanied the national team to the PyeongChang Olympics.

In a long-term situation where 24 hours a day is not enough, one of my important jobs is to know the limits of my own willpower and physical strength, understand the current situation, and maintain a state of health that allows for accurate judgment. The kickoff of the battle behind the scenes begins as soon as we enter PyeongChang, starting with setting up the environment in the Olympic Village from scratch. Because the Olympics is such an important and emotional competition for athletes, the pressure is immeasurable. To ensure that athletes are not overwhelmed by their ever-changing conditions and the shifting circumstances on the ground, I pseudo-assimilated "my own heart" with the "athlete's heart," providing meticulous and detailed support so that they could fully demonstrate their abilities. Eliminating distractions and events outside of the competition that involve the athletes is also my job.

As one example, regarding music—a crucial element of the competition—there was an accident where the sound source the athlete provided to the organizers did not produce the desired sound quality. Since I always carry alternative sound data just in case, I was able to negotiate a re-check of the sound outside of the practice slots. While aiming for a level of trust where stakeholders and athletes feel that anything can be resolved by talking to general affairs, I stay close to the athletes to provide a sense of security and composure. After the rankings are finalized, the athletes move on a minute-by-minute schedule for on-ice ceremonies, various interviews, and medal ceremonies. To prevent distractions for athletes who still have competitions ahead, I share post-competition scenarios with relevant parties in advance. I also played a role in connecting various departments of the Organizing Committee to adjust interview times due to various circumstances.

Yukichi Fukuzawa once said, "It is a person's clear judgment that regulates their actions by considering the time and place. A person who is active in action but lacks judgment is like a steam engine without an engine, or a ship without a rudder." Rather than making decisions by succumbing to the convenience of various parties or the flow of the surrounding environment, I choose the best path after knowing the athlete's heart, knowing myself, and grasping the overall situation. I perceived this as the work the Japanese team required of general affairs, understood it as a role like a navigator on-site, and was able to contribute in my own small way to the athletes' success through my work, being deeply moved by their actual performances.

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of the interview.