Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, has leveraged its cutting-edge technologies to enhance the Olympic Games Paris 2024, offering advanced solutions for media professionals and improving the global spectator experience.
Alibaba Cloud teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to integrate cloud-based innovations into the Games’ operations.
One of the most significant elements of this partnership is the Media Archiving AI Solution, developed by Alibaba Cloud together with the IOC. This solution offers enhanced visual search capabilities, automatic categorization of multimedia content, and AI-driven video highlight production.
The system’s visual AI technology has been employed to generate automatic video highlights, focusing initially on the boxing and archery events during Paris 2024. By identifying and compiling key moments in these sports, the solution aids media professionals in their storytelling efforts, thus enriching the global viewing experience.
“Alibaba Cloud plays an essential role when it comes to supporting technology during the Olympic Games, greatly increasing the efficiency and sustainability of Olympic Games operations,” said Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Bach highlighted Alibaba’s contribution to the Olympic AI Agenda, which aims to harness AI’s potential responsibly.
“Our cloud-based AI initiatives are designed to help transform the experience for media professionals and the global followers of the Olympic Games,” said Selina Yuan, president of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.
Smart Virtual Boxing project
Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven initiatives extend beyond media archiving. The company introduced the Smart Virtual Boxing project at the Alibaba Wonder Avenue (AWA) during Paris 2024. This project, powered by Alibaba Cloud’s proprietary large language model, Qwen, provided real-time analysis of athletes’ performances in virtual boxing matches. The AI delivered commentary in both English and French, predicting the outcomes of subsequent rounds and offering a more interactive and engaging experience for spectators.
Alibaba Cloud also introduced Cloud Memento, a feature allowing spectators to create personalized videos of themselves performing Olympic sports like archery and judo. These videos, enhanced by cloud-based smart technology, include dynamic animations and background scenes featuring iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. This innovation allows fans to take home a unique digital memento, bridging the gap between traditional sports and modern technology.
Alibaba Cloud also restored and colorized archival footage from the Olympic Games Paris 1924. This initiative enables contemporary audiences to view these iconic moments in enhanced quality and vibrant color. The technology was further utilized in “To the Greatness of Her,” a short film that highlights the evolution of gender equality in sports. The film, showcasing restored and colorized images of female athletes, was featured at the Alibaba Evening in Paris, celebrating the role of women in sports.
Alibaba Cloud supported the IOC’s sustainability efforts by deploying its data-driven solution, Energy Expert. This cloud-based tool was used to monitor and analyze electricity consumption at competition venues during Paris 2024. Through integrated intelligence and AI models, Energy Expert provided accurate energy forecasts and optimization recommendations, helping to reduce power wastage and contributing to the sustainability of future Olympic Games.