AI Goes for Gold: Transforming the Olympic Experience

The Olympic stage is home to the best athletes in the world. So good, even, that sometimes the difference between first and second place can be seconds, tenths of a point, and even millimeters – such as when Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly event. It can really come down to the details.

To have the best chance of winning, athletes and their teams must leverage data. Data to differentiate, data to strategize, and data to predict outcomes. Famously called ‘the new gold’, this data – when combined with the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform it into actionable insights – can also help athletes get the gold. Many will know AI has inserted itself into numerous industries, events, and aspects of everyday life, but are there any unexpected ways AI can influence how we approach sports at the highest level?

Let’s explore.

1.????? Smart fabrics

Wearable technology like watches and rings has become common, even among non-athletes. Smart fabrics, however, are a newer development. These advanced textiles embed sensors and AI-backed technology to monitor and enhance athletes’ performance.

In preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics, UW Madison Assistant Professor of Textile and Apparel Design Marianne Fairbanks highlighted that many athletes’ uniforms had evolved into ‘smart’ textiles. These uniforms, equipped with sensors, can track movements and provide data to improve training and performance.

Looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Olympics, we expect to see widespread use of this technology. Teams from all over the world will leverage these textiles to gather biometric data, providing team doctors, physicians, and therapists with real-time feedback. This data allows for precise adjustments to movements and performance optimization, potentially reducing injury risks. Innovations like smart insoles and integrated sensors, coupled with AI-led data analysis of heart rate and lung capacity, enable the creation of tailored training and recovery plans.

2.????? Personalized nutrition

Planning an Olympic athlete’s diet is no simple task. Asking about an Olympian’s diet is like asking what an animal eats; it’s too broad. Everything must be personalized, as we mentioned earlier – precision can make the difference between finishing on the podium or just off it. That’s why AI’s role in tailoring nutrition plans can be so beneficial. A weightlifter’s dietary needs differ significantly from a swimmer’s, and even among athletes in the same discipline, individual requirements vary significantly.

AI can optimize nutrition plans by integrating data from smart fabrics and other collected information. This comprehensive approach allows for precise adjustments tailored to each athlete’s specific goals. Through the analysis of physical exertion, recovery rates, metabolic responses, and more, AI-powered applications can recommend nutrient timing, portion sizes, and specific dietary components.

Additionally, since this analysis is done in real-time, athletes can ensure they get the right nutrients at the right time – therefore maximizing their potential and minimizing the risk of injury.

3.????? Protecting mental health

Athletes need to protect their mental health just as they do with their nutrition. Concerns about mental health in sports have intensified, especially after Simone Biles withdrew from the women’s gymnastics team final at the Tokyo Olympics, citing a loss of air sense and fear of performing gymnastics months later. This incident brought global attention to the importance of mental health – something which the International Olympic Committee has vowed to invest in.

Several initiatives now support athletes’ mental well being. These include mental decompression zones equipped with virtual reality (VR) headsets for optimal relaxation. On the AI front, the Olympic Games will leverage the technology to reduce social media abuse. With its quick-acting capabilities, AI can filter out bullying and trolling comments, offering athletes a safer online environment.

All 15,000 athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics can opt into this service. By flagging potentially harmful comments, AI allows athletes to focus on their performance without the added stress of online negativity.

4.????? Engaging fans

AI offers a huge opportunity to enhance fan engagement by providing real-time updates and personalized content. Leveraging AI technologies, fans could feel more connected and informed throughout the Olympic experience.

Consider this: With the vast array of events, a lot of people don’t know how to split their watch time – but AI has the potential to deliver customized schedules based on individual interests, ensuring fans catch their favorite competitions.

And let’s take that thought into live viewing. AI has the capabilities to indicate the best time to move between stadiums to optimize each person’s customized viewing schedule. Such an approach would create a seamless experience – while also enhancing the overall atmosphere by delivering interactive content and real-time statistics.

The Olympic stage, already home to the world’s best athletes, now stands poised to leverage the full power of AI. Some of these AI applications are already in use, while others represent near-future aspirations. The International Olympic Committee’s commitment to democratizing AI benefits ensures that athletes, International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and other members have access to these advanced tools.

But, let’s clarify. Integrating AI with existing systems is critical to achieving tangible results. Athletes, spectators, and organizations all stand to gain from the enhanced precision, personalized experiences, and additional features that AI offers. If The Olympics embracing technological advancements, they will set new standards for the future of sports.