World Aquatics has named Alibaba Cloud, the cloud unit of Alibaba Group, as its Global Exclusive Cloud Supplier in a partnership aimed at supporting the federation’s digital transformation.
For the first time, an international sports federation will fully migrate its core systems to the cloud. The move will rely on Alibaba Cloud’s expertise in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
“Alibaba Cloud brings not only global cloud coverage and proven technical expertise, but also a great understanding of the demands of international sport on digital platforms,” said Husain Al Musallam, president of World Aquatics. “This partnership will allow us to scale our operations, improve our platforms’ stability, enhance data security, and serve our community more effectively.”
The partnership, which will run from 2025 to 2028, will be applied across all World Aquatics events, including multiple World Aquatics Championships and World Cup cycles, as well as the federation’s digital platforms.
As part of the agreement, Alibaba Cloud will provide a full suite of cloud services and AI-driven tools to support World Aquatics’ operations and data strategy. The initiative is designed to connect athletes, coaches, federations, and fans more closely through digital platforms.
Planned projects under the collaboration include migrating the next-generation World Aquatics General Management System to Alibaba Cloud, launching a new web platform and mobile application, and building a scalable and secure digital ecosystem. A Customer Data Platform will also be developed to help World Aquatics better understand its audiences and deliver more tailored services.
Alibaba Cloud’s AI technology will be integrated across platforms to improve efficiency and optimize processes, aligning with World Aquatics’ vision of “a world united by water, for health, life and sport.”