Latest news with #SummerGames
Axios
a day ago
- Sport
- Axios
Exclusive: Olympics have big AI plans
The Olympics has a bold plan to use AI to make upcoming games in Italy and Los Angeles more efficient and to improve the experience for those watching on TV around the world. Why it matters: As one of the most watched and lucrative global events, the games have long served as a testbed for new technologies. The big picture: Ahead of last year's Paris Games, the International Olympic Committee unveiled a broad framework for AI use, to help in athlete training and event judging as well as to improve fans' experiences. However, AI played only a supporting role in Paris, with partners and sponsors using the event to showcase their chatbots and other technology. For next February's Winter Games in Italy, organizers hope AI can help streamline the time-consuming contingency planning and scheduling that comes with unpredictable snow conditions. For the L.A. Summer Games in 2028, the organizers hope AI will help manage more than three dozen sports taking place across a broad swath of Southern California (plus softball and canoeing in Oklahoma City). "For me, it is, 'How can we actually use AI to help the operations of the games globally?' Olympics CIO and CTO Ilario Corna told Axios in an interview. Zoom in: When it comes to the broadcasting of the games, AI is already speeding access to highlights from as many angles and athletes as possible, Olympic Broadcasting Services CEO Yiannis Exarchos told Axios. In Paris, OBS produced 11,000 hours of content, Exarchos said, with AI broadening the coverage and getting it to viewers faster. Using AI allowed those hours of footage to be sliced and diced into 97,000 separate highlight clips, in addition to the full coverage of each event. Not only could viewers choose to focus on a particular athlete in a particular sport, but broadcasters could create clips in different formats, such as horizontal video for social media. That's important to broadcasters around the world who spent millions or even billions to broadcast the games in their country. "It gave them the opportunity to be constantly pushing very, very fast, customized highlights for their own audience, on social, on digital, on their programs," Exarchos said. The use of technology was particularly noticeable with TV replays that made use of multiple cameras to show athletes in 3-D motion from multiple angles. As recently as a few years ago, it took around 20 minutes to generate a single such replay. "This made it practically useless for the live director," Exarchos said. With advances in AI and other technology, OBS was able to bring the creation of those highlights down to a matter of seconds, making it useful in live coverage. Viewers end up with a better understanding of an event's dynamics — whether it's a diver's moves, the spin on a ping-pong ball or the path of an archer's arrows. "But what I keep on insisting and reminding ourselves, starting with myself, is that this is not about technology," Exarchos said. "It's about using technology to tell the stories of the greatest athletes in the world." Between the lines: One reason the Olympics are able to push tech's boundaries is that they took the production of the raw videos for each sport in house in the 2000s with the creation of Olympic Broadcasting Services, which then distributes them to networks like NBC who've bought the rights. When each round of games had a different broadcaster in charge, they had to start from scratch each time. AI also has a role helping athletes and their coaches better understand their performances. In Paris, Alibaba and Omega partnered to help understand what's happening during hurdles races, not just in terms of the outcome, but also by tracking athletes' steps between each hurdle and other metrics useful in training. Corna said he'd like to see such practices spread to far more sports. Another job for AI could come in helping reduce the environmental impact of the games. In Paris, organizers used AI to help monitor energy use — spotting, for example, when one stadium left its lights on overnight and shutting them off. Using so-called digital twins of various stadiums and other venues cut down on the number of in-person visits by officials ahead of last summer's Olympics. In another case, AI helped identify a broken motor on a remote camera near the Eiffel Tower whose view kept unexpectedly drifting from its intended spot. Yes, but: One of the big challenges is ensuring that new technologies don't unduly benefit the richest countries.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
India's 2036 Olympics bid put on hold as new IOC president Kirsty Coventry shifts focus to Global South
India's bid to host the 2036 Olympics has been temporarily paused after newly elected IOC president Kirsty Coventry announced a review of the host selection process. She also made a push for Global South to host more Olympic Games. read more An Indian delegation is expected to meet International Olympic Committee officials next month to discuss India's bid to host 2023 Olympic Games. Image: AP The International Olympic Committee (IOC), under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, has put a 'pause' on the selection process for the hosts of the 2036 Olympics, for which India is also a bidder. She has announced the establishment of a working group that will determine an 'appropriate time' to identify a future host. Originally, the decision on the 20236 bid was expected to come out by 2026. India has formally launched a bid to host the 2036 Olympics, and Ahmedabad is reportedly being prepared for the mega event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD IOC to reassess bidding process for 2036 Olympic Games Coventry, the first woman and the first African President of the IOC, after heading her first IOC executive board meeting, said that the members of the IOC feel that there was a need to reassess the process. 'There was an overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause to be done and a review of the future host election process and we will be setting up a working group to look into this,' the 41-year-old Zimbabwean said. '(This is) for two main reasons. Firstly, members want to be engaged more in the process and secondly there was a very big discussion on when should the next host be awarded.' Coventry said the executive board members believed it was important to study the experiences of already confirmed future hosts — Los Angeles (2028 Summer Games), Brisbane (2032 Summer Games), and the French Alps (2030 Winter Games) — before moving forward with any new proposals. 'So there was a lot of discussion on when is the appropriate time to elect a future host. And also how we should be selecting a future host,' she said, citing the shorter 'lead-up time' for the French Alps as the rights were awarded only last year. Coventry, however, confirmed that the visit of the Indian delegation led by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao to Lausanne IOC headquarters for informal talks over the 2036 bid will go ahead as planned. 'We want all interested parties to be a part of this pause and reflect and of this review. I am aware of the delegation coming next weekend that will continue. They might be the first interested party for us to ask a couple of questions and to better understand from them. There is not going to be a specific pause on that but just on the entire process,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We need to ensure that we have more membership engagement and also look at the timing. When is the most appropriate time, when is the best time, when is the most effective time (to decide an Olympic host). 'What is the most effective way we are not going to overburden any of the stakeholders,' she added. Coventry hints future Games in Global South The former Olympic champion in swimming, Coventry, also dropped hints that the IOC is looking towards Global South (comprising Africa, the subcontinent and parts of Latin America) as a possible host of future Olympic Games. 'I think the Global South, in terms of host cities, is not really represented at all. But my job is to ensure that policies are in place to allow anyone who has the ability to host the Games,' she said.
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
IOC's Coventry pauses 2036 Olympics hosting contest in 1st big decision of her presidency
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry speaks during the opening of the executive board meeting of the IOC, at the Olympic House, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) By GRAHAM DUNBAR India's push toward winning the 2036 Olympics hosting contest seemed to stall a little on Thursday in the first big decision of Kirsty Coventry's IOC presidency. Coventry paused the fast tracking of a preferred bidder — a signature policy of her predecessor and mentor Thomas Bach — in a concession to International Olympic Committee members who have wanted more say in decisions under new leadership. 'Members want to be engaged more in the process' of picking Olympic hosts, Coventry acknowledged, citing 'overwhelming support' at meetings this week to stop and review how it is done and when. India has been seen as gaining momentum in the 2036 race that involves at least 10 bidders in talks including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Istanbul in Turkey. In her third full day in office, Coventry promised to create two working groups — to look at how hosts are chosen, and a second analyzing how to 'protect the female category' after controversy in women's boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The two-time Olympic champion swimmer also restated a principled vision ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in the city of Los Angeles, which U.S. President Donald Trump this month called 'a trash heap.' 'We see the best of humanity, we see compassion for others' in Olympic values, Coventry said at a news conference after chairing her first executive board meeting over two days. 'If we can celebrate in the diversity that we are, and that we have, we can really work towards creating something great,' the former sports minister of Zimbabwe said, pledging to try to inspire young people. Olympic officials from LA met with Coventry's board Wednesday and promised a 'unity of effort' in the city where the Trump administration deployed military forces after street protests against immigration raids. 'There is so much goodwill from all levels of government,' Coventry insisted, including federal. 'That gives us faith,' she said, that a platform for the Olympics 'will be there for us to ensure that our values are stuck to but that our values will also be heard.' After Los Angeles in 2028, the 2032 Summer Games will go to Brisbane which was picked 11 years ahead of time in the most secretive of modern hosting decisions. Bach aimed to avoid expensive bid campaigns and contested votes that could lead to negative headlines: rejection by local voters or allegations of vote buying. Instead, the IOC administration talked discreetly with potential hosts with no set timetable to deal exclusively with a bid well-connected in Olympic circles. Under this system, an India bid for 2036 promoted by influential IOC member Nita Ambani, from the family that is the richest in Asia, has looked strong. However, Coventry's strongest opponents in a seven-candidate election she won in March promised to consult more with their 100-plus IOC colleagues than was the case during Bach's tightly controlled 12-year presidency. Her presidency started Tuesday in closed-door sessions with more than 70 IOC members in Lausanne. The result is a reset for the 2036 contest. Still, Coventry confirmed, a bid team from India will continue to make a scheduled visit to the IOC next week. Olympic gold medalists are among 11 candidates for two vacancies to be IOC members when athletes vote at the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics in February. Chinese pairs figure skater Cong Han, Canadian ski cross racer Marielle Thompson, Ukrainian aerials skier Oleksandr Abramenko and Swiss cross-country skier Dario Cologna will be on the ballot. The two winners will be IOC members for eight years through the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Games. American 1,500-meter runner Shannon Rowbury was formally confirmed as the bronze medalist from the 2012 London Olympics nearly 13 years later. The IOC reallocated the medals to take account of a doping ban for Tatyana Tomashova imposed in September by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Rowbury crossed the line in sixth place in London in a race notoriously tainted by doping cases for the runners who placed first, second and fourth. Abeba Aregawi of Ethiopia was upgraded to silver on Thursday. The gold medal was previously awarded to Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Decision on India's 2036 Olympic Games bid set to take longer than expected
A decision on India's bid for the 2036 Olympics is set to take longer than expected as the International Olympic Committee's new President Kirsty Coventry, on Thursday (June 26, 2025), announced a 'pause' on the entire process and set up a working group to figure out the 'appropriate time' to identify a future host. In an online press conference after taking over as the first woman and the first African President of the IOC, the former Olympic champion swimmer said the consensus among the members was to reassess the process. Earlier, a decision on the bid was expected next year. 'There was an overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause to be done and a review of the future host election process and we will be setting up a working group to look into this,' the 41-year-old Zimbabwean said after chairing her maiden executive board meeting in Lausanne. '(This is) for two main reasons. Firstly, members want to be engaged more in the process and secondly there was a very big discussion on when should the next host be awarded,' he added in her opening remarks after the two-day meeting. Coventry said the executive board members felt that the experience of already decided future hosts — Los Angeles (2028 Summer Games), Brisbane (2032 Summer Games), and the French Alps (2030 Winter Games) — needed to be studied before proceeding on future proposals. 'So there was a lot of discussion on when is the appropriate time to elect a future host. And also how we should be selecting a future host,' she added referring to the relatively shorter 'lead-up time' that French Alps got due to awarding of the rights only last year. India submitted a Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Games in October last year. A delegation, comprising high-ranking officials led by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, is scheduled to be in Lausanne for informal talks on the issue next month.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
India's 2036 Olympic Dream: IOC Pauses Bidding Process To Figure Out 'Appropriate' Time To Elect Host
A decision on India's bid for the 2036 Olympics is set to take longer than expected as the International Olympic Committee's new President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday announced a "pause" on the entire process and set up a working group to figure out the "appropriate time" to identify a future host. In an online press conference after taking over as the first woman and the first African President of the IOC, the former Olympic champion swimmer said the consensus among the members was to reassess the process. Earlier, a decision on the bid was expected next year. "There was an overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause to be done and a review of the future host election process and we will be setting up a working group to look into this," the 41-year-old Zimbabwean said after chairing her maiden executive board meeting in Lausanne. "(This is) for two main reasons. Firstly, members want to be engaged more in the process and secondly there was a very big discussion on when should the next host be awarded," he added in her opening remarks after the two-day meeting. Coventry said the executive board members felt that the experience of already decided future hosts -- Los Angles (2028 Summer Games), Brisbane (2032 Summer Games), French Alps (2030 Winter Games) -- need to be studied before proceeding on future proposals. "So there was a lot of discussion on when is the appropriate time to elect a future host. And also how we should be selecting a future host," she added referring to the relatively shorter "lead-up time" that French Alps got due to awarding of the rights only last year. India submitted a Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Games in October last year. A delegation, comprising high-ranking officials led by Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, is scheduled to be in Lausanne for informal talks on the issue next month. Coventry said that visit will proceed as scheduled. "We want all interested parties to be a part of this pause and reflect and of this review. I am aware of the delegation coming next weekend that will continue. They might be the first interested party for us to ask a couple of questions and to better understand from them. "There is not going to be a specific pause on that but just on the entire process," she said. "We need to ensure that we have more membership engagement and also look at the timing. When is the most appropriate time, when is the best time, when is the most effective time (to decide an Olympic host). "What is the most effective way we are not going to overburden any of the stakeholders," she explained. She, however, acknowledged that the global south (comprising Africa, the subcontinent and parts of Latin America) has been under-represented in the Olympic host movement. "I think the Global South, in terms of host cities, is not really represented at all. But my job is to ensure that policies are in place to allow anyone who has the ability to host the Games," she said.
