IOC President Thomas Bach: Alibaba Ushers in the Era of Artificial Intelligence for the Olympics

“Without Alibaba, there would be no Olympic artificial intelligence.” This statement was made by IOC President Thomas Bach during the opening ceremony of the “Alibaba Wonder Avenue” on the Champs-Élysées on July 27. Bach's remarks acknowledged Alibaba's significant contributions over the past seven years, which have led to two major technological breakthroughs for the Olympics.

At the event, Bach presented Alibaba Group's Executive Chairman, Joe Tsai, with an Olympic torch from the Paris Games. While at the “Alibaba Wonder Avenue,” Bach experienced the services of a smart assistant and interacted with his digital avatar. This venue, newly established by Alibaba on the Champs-Élysées, offers a futuristic shopping experience for visitors and will be open during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The smart assistant at “Wonder Avenue” is supported by advanced AI technologies and features multi-modal, multi-language, and conversational capabilities. It allows visitors to preview how AI and cloud computing could transform everyday life.

Bach highlighted Alibaba's valuable contributions to event organization and broadcasting technology, noting that through cutting-edge innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence and cloud computing, Alibaba has significantly influenced the future of sports. The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) is utilizing Alibaba Cloud’s broadcasting technology to create an enhanced experience for global viewers.

During the Paris Olympics, cloud computing will replace satellite technology as the primary means of live broadcasting. More than two-thirds of the Olympic broadcast signals will be transmitted through Alibaba Cloud, reaching over 200 countries and billions of viewers worldwide. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics marked the first time all Olympic broadcasts transitioned to the cloud, and this year, cloud broadcasting will dominate as the main broadcasting method.

Bach stated that Alibaba's technologies have played a crucial role in the digital transformation of the Olympics, setting new standards for the future. Joe Tsai reiterated the importance of Alibaba’s core cloud computing system in facilitating low-cost, high-speed video signal transmission for the global broadcasting network.

The Paris Games will also be the first Olympics to extensively implement AI technologies. Thirteen venues will feature AI-enhanced capabilities that can quickly produce highlight reels during live broadcasts, a process that previously took many hours.

“Since our collaboration with the PyeongChang Winter Olympics began in 2018, Alibaba’s technology has continuously supported the IOC, and we are proud to contribute to the digitization of the world's largest and most complex sporting events,” Tsai remarked. Bach expressed gratitude for Alibaba's expertise in advancing the Olympic AI agenda, emphasizing that the partnership has been profoundly beneficial. "Without Alibaba, there would be no Olympic AI agenda.”