Powering 'Tech Olympics' in Paris

How the Paris 2024 Olympics redefined global sports, blending Al, 5G, and digital twins to set new standards and pave the way for the future of sporting events

- PRATIMA HARIGUNANI & PUNAM SINGH

Fencing. Sailing. Pole vaults. Javelins. These sports carry the echoes of ancient civilisations, where human endurance, skill, and innovation shaped the course of history. Fast-forward to the Paris 2024 Olympics and the games have evolved again, embracing cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and 5G connectivity. The evolution was unmistakable; as the world’s athletes pushed the limits of human capability, technology, too, pushed the boundaries of what was possible in sports.

As Christophe Thivet, Chief Integrator of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Atos, aptly put it, “This summer, some events had to pause as many French attendees in the venues tracked Léon Marchand’s latest swim race on their phones. This underscores the increasing trend of consuming sports both live and digitally.”

AI: FROM PERFORMANCE TO PRESERVATION

Artificial Intelligence made its presence felt at Paris 2024, not merely as a tool but as a transformative force spanning multiple facets of the Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) utilised AI to protect athletes from online abuse, with AI-powered systems flagging harmful content for intervention. However, the applications of AI went beyond safeguarding; it also played a pivotal role in performance analysis.

Companies like Intel played an essential role in integrating AI into performance analysis and broadcasting, providing a depth of data previously unimaginable. These AI platforms, designed for talent detection and performance improvement, helped capture and process real-time data such as biomechanics and heart rates, offering coaches insights to decisively influence event outcomes.