The worlds of sports and data are becoming more intertwined – and that's certainly true at this year's Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Find out how athletes, organizers, and coaches use AI, IoT, and robots in the spectacular Olympic games.

1. FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY AT THE
OLYMPICS: AI, IoT, AND ROBOTS

2. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY AT THE OLYMPICS: AI,
IoT, AND ROBOTS
The worlds of sports and data are becoming more intertwined – and that's
certainly true at this year's Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Find out how
athletes, organizers, and coaches use AI, IoT, and robots in the spectacular
Olympic games.

3. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
The Olympics are all about emotion – the drama of world-class competition, the pageantry of
medal ceremonies, and the moment-to-moment celebrations of the human spirit in action.
The 2022 Winter Games kicked off on February 4th in Beijing, China. Despite the fact that the
Games feel a little different because of COVID restrictions, nearly 3,000 athletes from 91 countries
are competing in 109 events across events like alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, luge,
bobsled, snowboarding, and speed skating.
And behind the scenes, there are huge technological advances helping athletes become better,
faster, and stronger.
Let’s take a look at how artificial intelligence, the IoT, and intelligent devices are being used at the
Olympic Games.

4. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ENHANCING ATHLETE PERFORMANCE WITH AI
Teams looking for a competitive edge are using AI technologies for player training, performance, health,
and safety. That includes things like:
- Cameras and sensors in equipment like bike pedals or shoes that can continuously stream data to
coaches, so they can make adjustments.
- Smart wearables and that measure lung capacity, heart rate, and movement, so sports physicians,
physical therapists, and team doctors can reduce injuries and help players heal faster.
- Monitoring equipment that helps coaching staff predict the next move of the opposing team or
individual competitor.
- AI programs that can analyze performance data to create personalized solutions for training, rest, and
nutrition.
- AI-enabled physical tests that can detect early signs of fatigue or stress-related injuries.

5. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ENGAGING FANS WITH REAL-TIME DATA
Artificial intelligence tools like computer-vision cameras give the Olympic audience the
ultimate viewing experience.
AI-powered 3D Athlete Tracking (3DAT) uses cameras with computer vision and artificial
intelligence to give fans near-real-time data during races and events. AI provides
biomechanical analysis of athlete speed, distance traveled, and time remaining to display
on screen and use in overlays during replays.
Upcoming viewer-oriented innovations around scoring, positioning systems, and
timekeeping are currently in development for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

6. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
REFINING CURLING IN BEIJING WITH A ROBOTIC COACH
Inventors and scientists at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in China created a
robotic curling coach that uses a combination of image recognition, AI, and an automatic
control system to help teams refine their performance.
The robot simulates the curling throwing process, which can help athletes predict potential
game situations before they occur. The HIT team will unveil the robotic curling coach to
the world at the Beijing Olympics.

7. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ROBOT CHEFS AND BARTENDERS TAKE OVER THE KITCHENS IN THE
OLYMPIC VILLAGE
In an effort to keep the spread of COVID-19 under control at this year’s games, organizers
decided to bring in robot chefs to prepare and deliver meals onsite for the athletes and their
support teams.
The advancements include things like:
- An AI-enabled chef-bot that prepares burgers and other hot meals
- A coffee robot that grinds beans and brews java
- A ceiling-mounted robot arm that delivers meals to people sitting in socially-distanced
cubicles
- Super-efficient bartender robots that mix up favorite cocktails

8. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
AI, robots, and the Internet of Things are playing a key role at this year’s Winter
Olympics – so look for some of this cutting-edge technology as your cheer for your
favorite athletes this year and beyond.
To stay on top of these and other trends, sign up for my newsletter, and check out my
books ‘Tech Trends in Practice’ and ‘Business Trends in Practice.'

9. © 2021 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker,
futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to governments and
companies. He helps organisations improve their business performance, use data
more intelligently, and understand the implications of new technologies such as
artificial intelligence, big data, blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is
a frequent contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for
Forbes. Every day Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers
and shares content that reaches millions of readers.

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