Paris Olympics Powers Up Digital Transformation Efforts

AI is shaping up to be one of the main talking points in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
From broadcasting, to websites, to digital apps, the technology is present across every aspect of the Games. At the heart of Paris 2024 is a commitment to responsible digital transformation and a future-led approach to embracing AI safely.
Supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) via its Olympic AI Agenda, AI technology will be used to improve operational efficiency, enhance training programmes, ensure athlete safety and boost fan experience.
“The IOC will use AI at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in different areas,” IOC President Thomas Bach highlights in a statement. “A very important one is safeguarding from cyber abuse since we expect about half a billion social media posts during these Games. AI will also be used to create highlights videos in multiple formats and languages during these Games.
“We are also using AI to make the Olympic Games more sustainable, through a very sophisticated first-ever data capture and energy management system.”
Going for Gold: AI at the Olympics
In the lead up to the Games, IOC Members received an update on how the Olympic AI Agenda would be carried out overall.
Whilst the IOC is introducing some pioneering concepts at Paris 2024, its overall strategy is a measured one. During the meeting, it was explained that AI technology will be tested and evaluated to see how it can be used to future-proof the Olympic Games.
AI will be used in myriad ways across the Olympic Games in 2024, including safeguarding athletes from cyber abuse, bolstering cybersecurity measures and advertising.
“We have identified over 180 potential use cases for AI across the Olympic Movement,” says Ilario Corna, IOC’s Director of Information and Technology. “Our task now is to prioritise these opportunities to maximise their impact.”
Notably, AI will assist athletes with analysing sporting performance through tools that provide instant insights into athlete performance. As a result, the individual athletes can make smarter decisions that are tailored to their individual requirements.
New AI tools will also be deployed to enhance the fairness and accuracy of judging and refereeing through the provision of precise metrics, according to the IOC.
In a similar vein, new AI broadcast tools stand to offer an improved viewer experience. The technology will be used to provide viewers with a 360-degree view of an athlete’s performance, whilst introducing ground-breaking visuals such as athlete tracking, intelligent stroboscopic analysis and enhanced data graphics.
Whilst AI is being used to support current athletes in their Olympic journey, the IOC is also pioneering use cases to identify new talent - as explained in the below video.
Partnering with Intel and the Senegalese Olympic Committee, the IOC deployed a team of sports scientists for a trial programme. More than 1,000 young people from across the country participated and provided unique information for future Olympians from Senegal.
“AI is also opening up new ways for talent identification, and this project will be launched by us globally in 2025 to live up to the commitment we made that AI in sport must be accessible to everybody,” Thomas Bach comments.
IOC commits to Olympic Games sustainability
Beyond athlete experience, AI can also be used by the Olympics to streamline operations to enhance efficiency and champion sustainability measures. This is particularly poignant, given that sustainability initiatives are at the forefront of global concerns.
AI-designed virtual models that simulate Games operations can be used to optimise processes, support sustainability efforts and reduce costs through precise simulations. The IOC states that these tools can also enhance the analysis of energy consumption data can stand to help future Games organisers to make data-driven decisions, ensuring right-sized and efficient energy solutions.
Currently, the IOC reports that digital activities make up nearly 7% of the total carbon footprint for the Olympic Games. In order to reduce this impact, Paris 2024 is focusing on optimising equipment usage where possible, particularly televisions or printers that hold the largest carbon footprint.
Our sister publication Sustainability Magazine reported in July 2024 that Paris has targeted a 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the average of London 2012 and Rio 2016. A carbon budget was targeted, focusing on all Games planning and operation across construction, energy, transport, catering and procurement.
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