Making AI ubiquitous, Intel helps the Olympics unleash the charm of technology with AI platform innovation

Summary: Intel announces AI-driven solutions to bring innovative experiences to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On April 17, 2024, Intel officially announced its plans for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. On the global stage of the Olympic Games, Intel will deploy artificial intelligence technology powered by Intel processors to make AI ubiquitous.

As the official global AI platform partner of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, Intel will launch a series of innovative AI experiences based on Intel hardware and software to bring unprecedented participation experiences to sports fans, organizers, athletes and spectators from all over the world.

The main areas of AI application include:

• Immersive sports experiences allow sports fans to experience innovative technologies used to assess athlete potential;

• Helping to present end-to-end 8K ultra-high-definition live broadcast of the Olympic Games;

• Promote accessibility in some Olympic and Paralympic facilities.

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, nearly 15,000 athletes will participate in the competition, millions of spectators will watch the games on site, and billions of viewers will watch the games through cable TV and digital platforms. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will embed Intel's artificial intelligence platform technology in three key areas throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Immersive AI Live Experience

In the lead-up to and during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, AI applications powered by Intel processors and software solutions will demonstrate the potential of technology to empower athletes, coaches and spectators.

Intel will create an AI-powered interactive program for sports fans to take on a journey to become an Olympic athlete. The Intel AI Platform Experience program will work with Samsung to analyze athletes’ training through AI and computer vision technology and match each participant’s profile with an Olympic sport. The program is trained on Intel Gaudi accelerators, runs on Intel Xeon processor platforms with built-in AI acceleration, and is optimized with OpenVINO.

Intel technology will also further promote barrier-free facilities throughout the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, bringing more convenience to the visually impaired. Intel supported the U.S. Team High Performance Training Center in Paris and the International Paralympic Committee headquarters in Bonn, Germany to create 3D models that enable indoor and voice navigation through smartphone applications. The 3D models are powered by artificial intelligence technology built on Intel Xeon processors.

Groundbreaking 8K live OTT broadcast workflow streaming and customized viewing experience for sports fans

The 2024 Paris Olympics will use Intel Xeon processors to present end-to-end 8K UHD live broadcasts, which provides a clear direction for the future development of low-latency, 8K resolution video live broadcasts over the Internet. Powered by Intel Xeon Scalable processors equipped with Intel Deep Learning Boost Technology, broadcast servers will encode and compress the live signal generated by the Olympic Broadcast Service (OBS) with "more, faster, better" 8K/60FPS/HDR pixels in millisecond response speeds. This pixel uses the VVC standard to compress the 48 Gbps original signal to 40-60 Mbps transmission. Within seconds, the 8K OTT signal will be transmitted to new Intel desktops and laptops connected to 8K TVs to selected locations around the world. This will provide global audiences with high-quality broadcast-grade HD live broadcasts to prepare them for future Olympic events.

With the help of AI automation, broadcasters can provide viewers with more customized digital content at a faster speed. The Olympic Broadcast Service's automated highlight generation function is trained on the Intel Geti platform, which can package customized highlights across multiple sports and distribute them to sports fans instantly, effectively improving the efficiency of producing and editing highlights.

Protecting the Olympic legacy

To help preserve the Olympic legacy, neural object cloning technology developed by Intel's Emerging AI Lab will transform videos related to Olympic collections into 3D digital artifacts. With this solution, which is being tested, the Olympic Museum will be able to place some of its collections in an interactive digital environment where visitors can rotate and explore Olympic historical treasures as if they were touching them in person.

Intel will continue to develop and launch new applications of AI technology before the Olympics, so stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the coming months.

Intel's Inseparable Bond with the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Intel has extensive experience in innovation at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and has continuously improved the experience of the games by accelerating the application of 5G, VR, drones, and artificial intelligence technology platforms. This relationship began at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, where the unforgettable Intel Shooting Star drone display became a highlight. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Intel Premium drones took to the air again, introducing 3D Athlete Tracking Technology (3DAT) and VR training technology.

In 2022, Intel, as a global TOP partner of the Olympic Games, deeply supported the Beijing Winter Olympics and helped to conduct 5G live broadcasts at the Winter Olympics, using innovative technologies to create a different kind of splendor in the digital era. At the opening ceremony, Intel used the 3D Athlete Tracking Technology (3DAT) based on Intel Xeon Scalable Processors and worked with a third-party professional team to customize and develop a "real-time special effects system for performances based on artificial intelligence technology", which was applied in multiple programs to convey the aesthetic art and Olympic spirit to the world.

During the Beijing Winter Olympics, Intel also played a new chapter for the intersection of technology and sports competition. In the training and preparation of athletes, Intel's three-dimensional athlete tracking technology (3DAT) helps coaches organize and propose scientific training plans and professional strategies, effectively improves training efficiency, helps athletes release their sports potential, and improves their competitive performance . VR technology and 360° VR technology platforms also provide athletes and coaches with a rich leisure and entertainment experience. In addition, Intel has teamed up with partners to create the VSS digital twin venue simulation service, which visualizes, animates, and parameters the venue and activity process in three dimensions, and completely replicates the real venue into a digital, virtualized online venue, playing an important role in large-scale sports events and smart city construction.

“Our collaboration with Intel propels us into an arena where emerging technologies powered by AI are shaping the world of sport for fans, athletes, IOC staff and partners,” said Ilario Corna, IOC Chief Information Technology Officer. “Through Intel’s AI solutions, we are deploying AI at a breakneck pace. At Paris 2024, our collaboration will create a new Olympic experience that reflects our shared commitment to create a better world through sport.”

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The Paralympics will be held from August 28 to September 8.