Friday’s news confirmed the intentions of Olympic creators to implement AI into sport reflecting the global trend of using quickly developing technology.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) outlined its AI application strategy, pointing out the capabilities to identify athletes with high potential, customize training, and make the competition fairer through improved judging.
“Today we are making another step to ensure the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and the relevance of sport. To do this, we have to be leaders of change,” IOC President Thomas Bach said at a press event at the Velodrome at the Olympic Park in London, which hosted the Summer Games in 2012.
“We are determined to exploit the vast potential of AI in a responsible way,” Bach said.
In the atmosphere of the Paris Olympics that are left with only 100 days, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is presenting its overall AI strategy.
Among other things, AI innovations are trying to improve how audiences at home enjoy the coverage, and they also help reduce online harassment of athletes. This complex approach follows their desire to receive more money from broadcasting rights which is one of the main sources of income for the organization.
The IOC President failed to reveal the details of the projects but hinted, that some AI implementations first time would be demonstrated during the Paris Games. Additionally, the creation of a specific working group can signify the IOC’s dedication to developing AI integration in sports.
Disputes on Paris games’ use of AI for security, nevertheless, remain as the type of facial recognition applied is denied among others and hard to come across other types of facial recognition.
IOC leaves it to French officials, which implies the great importance they put on the expertise of the local authorities in the matter of security.
“It’s not replacing athletes, it’s not replacing coaching. But I think it’s just another tool that can be used in a positive way to perform better,” Vonn said.
Partnering with Intel, the IOC has reached remote areas considered to be athletically untapped. In Senegal, Intel evaluated 1,000 children from five villages based on their height of jump and the speed of reaction. AI analysis shortlisted 40 very prospective people, according to Christoph Schnell, Intel’s CCO.
AI algorithms were applied for the recommendation of the sports that were suitable for the final candidates from the test results.
Bach, the President of the IOC, warned of acting solely on machines instead of humans while making young athletes such predictions but without giving them the chance to try different sports.
