AI Technology Spotting Future Olympians at Paris 2024 Olympics

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, fans are experiencing a cutting-edge AI-powered talent spotting system designed to identify future gold medalists. This innovative technology, developed with the goal of democratizing advanced sports science, could soon be available worldwide in a portable version that brings elite-level assessments to even the most remote areas.

How the System Works

In a series of AI-driven tests set up near the Olympic Stadium, participants like Tacto and his younger brother Tomo from Yokohama, Japan, are put through their paces. The tests, which include running, jumping, and measuring grip strength, gather data on various physical attributes such as power, explosiveness, endurance, reaction time, strength, and agility. This data is then analyzed and compared with benchmarks from professional and Olympic athletes to assess each participant’s athletic potential.

“We’re using computer vision and historical data, so the average person can compare themselves to elite athletes and see what sport they are most physically aligned to,” explains Sarah Vickers, head of Intel’s Olympic and Paralympic Program.

After completing the tests, participants receive recommendations on which sports they are best suited for from a list of ten options. Importantly, Intel ensures that all data collected during the process is deleted once the analysis is complete. For young participants like Tacto, the experience is both educational and enjoyable. “I enjoyed it,” he says, “I liked the bit where we had to sprint the best.”

Taking AI Talent Spotting to Remote Areas

The AI system being showcased in Paris has a smaller, more portable version that can run on most devices equipped with a basic camera and minimal computing power. “With just a mobile phone, tablet, or PC, you have the opportunity to go into places where you couldn’t go before,” Vickers notes. This portability allows the AI to assess performance using video analysis alone, without the need for physical sensors.

Recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took this technology to Senegal, where it toured five villages and assessed over 1,000 children on their athletic potential. Partnering with Senegal’s National Olympic Committee, the system identified 48 children with significant potential, including one with exceptional abilities. These children have been offered places in sports programs to further develop their talents.

The potential for this AI technology to reach underserved areas is significant, offering opportunities to individuals who might not otherwise have access to high-tech assessment methods. The system’s ability to bring advanced sports science to remote regions is a promising step toward discovering and nurturing the next generation of athletes.

Expert Opinions on AI in Talent Identification

Prof John Brewer, a visiting lecturer at the University of Suffolk and an expert in talent identification, recognizes the benefits of this AI system for initial assessments. “If they are revealing skill and agility which suggests that they are able to have talent in a particular sport, then that has to be encouraged,” he says. Brewer also highlights the system’s portability as a key advantage, especially in areas lacking access to sophisticated assessment tools.

However, Brewer also notes the limitations of a basic system that measures only a few attributes, particularly for sports like football or basketball that require complex skills and endurance. “If you want to win the marathon or the 10K, you have to have that aerobic capacity, that oxygen transport capacity, that no filming will ever show,” he explains. Nonetheless, Brewer sees the system as a valuable component of a broader talent identification strategy.

Real-World Results and Future Potential

Back at the Olympic Stadium, young Tacto receives his results—he has been identified as a potential sprinter. Though he’s delighted, he currently prefers football and tennis. Meanwhile, former intercollegiate athletes Hank and Brock also try out the AI system, which identifies rugby as Hank’s best-suited sport and basketball for Brock, despite his lack of experience in the game. Their playful banter highlights that while AI technology offers remarkable insights, it may not always be perfect.

This AI-powered talent spotting system represents a new frontier in sports science, with the potential to revolutionize how athletes are discovered and nurtured. As the technology continues to develop, it could play a crucial role in identifying the Olympians of the future, regardless of where they are in the world.