The tried and true idea of athletic competition, and more specifically, the Summer 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, are about to collide with the fast-evolving sector of Artificial Intelligence.
The collision is not unexpected, however. Back in April, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched its comprehensive strategy for AI and sports, titled The Olympic AI Agenda.
This strategy not only sets the stage for AI's role in enhancing athlete support but also seeks to reassure that AI is here to complement, not replace, human performance.
IOC President Thomas Bach emphasised this distinction during the launch event, affirming that AI's potential lies in augmenting athlete capabilities rather than supplanting them in essential aspects like athletic performance.
“In sport, the performance will always have to be delivered by the athlete. The 100 metres will always have to be run by an athlete – a human being,” he said.
The agenda was developed by the AI Working Group, which was composed of AI pioneers, academics, athletes and technology companies.
A comprehensive review of AI applications in sports was conducted by the group, focusing on areas where the IOC could lead the Olympic Movement and shape its future.
Bolstering cybersecurity for athletes
Among the many issues addressed during the AI group's discussions was Paris Olympics' efforts towards gender parity as well as the increasing online violence directed towards women in sports.
“Popular athletes, especially, face significant backlash if their performance on a given day doesn't meet expectations,” Sarah Walker, the Olympic silver medallist in BMX, IOC member, vice-chairwoman of the IOC Athletes' Commission, and member of the AI Working Group told The National.
Looking ahead to Paris 2024, the New Zealand BMX racer added that every athlete's social media will be monitored for hate comments, with AI technology promptly removing them before athletes can see them.
The committee is collaborating with a provider to implement extensive AI-driven coverage to create digitally secure environments during the Olympic Games, said Kirsty Burrows, head of Safe Sport Unit at the IOC during the launch event.
This includes utilising AI to monitor millions of data points in real time to detect and address targeted online abuse towards athletes and officials.
Speaking about the rapid advancements in the AI industry, Ms Walker, a member of the IOC since 2016, emphasised the importance for the committee to stay current and establish a strategy.
“I feel like the IOC is an organisation that if they don't do anything until a year or two from now, they're going to be so far behind, and trying to catch up is going to be hard for them,” she said.
Ms Walker reflected on the potential for both the positive impacts of AI as well as the altruistic goals of sport, to both be amplified with so many people turning their attention to the Olympic Games.
“AI could provide more opportunities for athletes to showcase the full capabilities of the human body,” she said, referring to the various AI implementations from technology and media companies throughout the games.
Talent scouting with AI
The IOC is utilising AI is to ensure that equal opportunities are presented to as many nations as possible across racial and economic lines, said Amit Joshi, Professor and AI Expert at IMD Business School, and member of the AI Working Group.
With AI's potential to identify talent from all corners of the world, Prof Joshi said that the future of diversity and inclusivity in sport is looking more hopeful than ever.
“There might be a dozen Michael Phelps running around in different parts of the world, but we will never know this because they've never had the opportunity to compete, and we have no way of identifying that these people can be elite,” Prof Joshi told The National.
However, partners for the Paris 2024 Olympics such as Intel Corporation and Samsung Electronics are helping to advance the identification process through their various AI endeavours and projects.
Together, the tech giants have deployed an AI-powered talent identification system that attendees can test at the Stade Da France, France's most prominent sports stadium, which has been transformed into the Olympic Stadium.
With Samsung's smartphones, tablets, computer vision technology and Intel's cloud-based AI, participants can perform various sports-related exercises and then receive Intel's suggestions on which Olympic sport they should pursue.
Intel piloted this initiative in Senegal with the Senegalese National Olympic Committee, where local youth who showed potential as athletes for the Youth Olympic Games scheduled for 2026 were identified.
“Now, with this technology, we could use it to provide more opportunities and accelerate their progress. This way, it's not only the typically wealthy nations with exceptional resources, infrastructure, and systems that excel,” Prof Joshi explained.
Voice clones and expedited video editing
Last month, American television network NBC announced that an AI-generated clone of the renowned sports broadcaster Al Michaels will narrate daily streaming recaps of the Summer Olympics.
It introduced Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock, a tool featuring narration from an AI recreation of Mr Michaels' voice.
This particular implementation of AI was trained using his previous NBC appearances to replicate his distinct delivery style.
“When I was approached about this, I was sceptical but obviously curious. Then, I saw a demonstration detailing what they had in mind. I said, 'I'm in.',” Mr Michaels said.
The tool also features 10-minute highlights packages, which include event updates, athlete backstories and other related content personalised by subscriber preferences.
The company said the highlights from 5,000 hours of live coverage in Paris could be packaged in 7 million ways, allowing broadcasters to focus on more critical tasks while AI features deliver customised recaps more efficiently.
Prof Joshi noted that the Olympics will run for 17 days, and hundreds of events will take place at the same time with different types of audiences, so this feature will be convenient for many who may miss an event due to time zone differences.
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Rating: 2/5
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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- Keep an open mind
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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