Why does the Olympics have an 'AI agenda' and what does it mean for the future of sport?

Applications of AI


The 2024 Summer Olympics, which open in Paris on July 26, will have more novelty than just the inclusion of breakdancing in the games for the first time — it will also be the first time the quadrennial sporting extravaganza has featured it since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unveiled its Olympic AI agenda.

One might wonder why the Olympics, founded in 1896 to mimic the famous athletics events of ancient Greece, needs an “AI agenda”: Can computers support the human body in its quest to reach higher, faster and stronger?

The answer is quite varied, according to the IOC: The commission's far-reaching plans envision a world in which AI systems help athletes achieve peak performance, ensure fair play, optimize event production and transform the spectator experience.

According to IOC President Thomas Bach, the goal is to “embrace change and provide responsible leadership to set the course for the future of AI in sport while upholding Olympic values.”

Talent identification, athlete training and injury rehabilitation

While much of what the IOC is thinking about is sport-specific, some of it is AI applications that could be used by organizations in many sectors.

The most important applications of sports-specific AI focus on individual athletes. By evaluating vast data sets based on performance, physical characteristics, and skills, AI systems can help find talented players. These systems can operate at scale and have the potential to identify players who are currently overlooked.

AI can also play a role in helping talented individuals become world-class athletes, and we are already seeing AI systems designed to support coaches by providing personalized training plans.

Optimizing training and discovering hidden patterns in the behavior of individuals or groups of athletes is another promising application of AI models. Coaches can use these models to continually adapt training strategies through feedback.

AI training systems are becoming more affordable and accessible than traditional coaching: Some AI tools can analyze video of movements like a tennis swing and provide feedback in real time, requiring no equipment other than a smartphone.

Organisations such as Swimming Australia are already using AI tools that use natural language to interpret athlete data.

AI-powered tools are also transforming injury prevention and rehabilitation: by analyzing biomechanical data, training logs, and medical records, AI can identify injury risk factors and provide personalized recommendations to avoid injury.

For example, AI models can analyze an athlete's movement patterns to detect imbalances and suggest targeted exercises and corrective techniques to reduce the risk of injury and speed recovery. Research also shows that AI technology can identify knee injuries with accuracy comparable to that of a doctor, potentially reducing the need for specialists.

Judging and review

The IOC also sees another important use of AI as making sports fairer.

Technological assistance to umpires is not new: think of cricket's decision review systems, NRL bunkers, and electronic line calls in tennis, while the FIFA World Cup's “semi-automated” offside technology uses AI.

A photo of a soccer player marked up with image recognition.
AI-powered semi-automated offside technology has been used successfully at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA

AI judging is also coming to gymnastics, and it may be hard for casual viewers to understand why some gymnasts get higher scores than others.

To make judging more transparent, a judging assistant system has been implemented on every apparatus at the 2023 World Championships. The AI-based tool will ensure that gymnasts' movements match the rulebook more closely, potentially making the sport more accessible to viewers.

Viewing Experience

New technologies and digital innovations will bring the Olympic Games closer to fans.

The 2020 Tokyo Games (actually held in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic) saw double the digital engagement compared to the 2016 Rio Games, with Australia being one of the top countries for consumption of digital content.

A recent survey found that Australian audiences are generally opposed to AI-produced political news, but are more receptive to AI-generated sports content.

A recent IBM study found that 55% of tennis fans surveyed worldwide believe AI will have a positive impact on the sport, a sentiment that reflects a growing acceptance of AI's role in improving the fan experience.

The IOC wants to use AI to create “a more personalised fan experience”, though exactly what that will entail remains to be seen.

Increased efficiency

Beyond the sports themselves, AI will be used to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and make the Olympics more sustainable, including optimizing transportation, workforce training, logistics, and ticket sales.

The IOC plans to share learnings from this year's Games with other sports organisers to help them create more engaging and cost-effective events.

AI technology will be used to protect athletes and officials from bad behaviour on social media: An expected 500 million social comments will be monitored during the 2024 Paris Olympics, with bad posts automatically removed to protect athletes.

Will it change or not?

In sports, as in other parts of society, it is important to establish guidelines for implementing AI safely and responsibly. A critical first step is ensuring that the data provided to AI systems is safe, accurate, fair and inclusive.

In 2014, the IOC launched its Reform Programme in a Rapidly Changing World with the motto “To Change or Not to Be Changed”. This imperative has taken on new urgency in recent years with the rapid advancement of AI technologies.

As we've seen, AI is making inroads in this year's Olympics, and we can expect to see even more use of it in the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032. Are we ready for AI?



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