From AI-assisted training to VR-assisted viewing, Chinese virtual technology is shining brightly at the Paris Olympics.
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Beijing, July 31 (Reporter: Ling Meng), Youth.cn - "On the field, SenseTime's 3D venue models and 3D motion capture algorithms help audiences analyze each athlete's movements and the basketball's trajectory in real-time. Off the field, at the sponsor experience zone on Paris' Champs-Élysées, Alibaba showcases cutting-edge virtual industry technology to a global audience."
Currently in Paris, Zhang Qing, the founder of KeyPoint Sports Consultancy and the chief brand management expert at the China Sports Economy Research Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, shared his on-site experiences at this globally watched international sporting event with Youth.cn reporters.
The 2024 Paris Olympics has recently kicked off. While the national team athletes are competing on the field, cutting-edge virtual industry technologies from Chinese companies like Alibaba, SenseTime, Baidu, and iFlytek are also shining brightly at this international sports event. From AI-assisted athlete training to AR-assisted viewing, "virtual technology + sports" is leaving a unique mark at the Paris Olympics, empowering the digital development of the sports industry.
Cutting-Edge Chinese Virtual Industry Technology Debuts at the Paris Olympics
At the Paris Olympics, which opened just a few days ago, virtual technology has garnered global attention alongside the athletes' pursuit of gold and silver. Both on and off the field, companies such as Alibaba, SenseTime, iFlytek, Lenovo, and Baidu have showcased the most advanced applications of China's "virtual technology + sports" industry.
As one of the global partners of the Paris Olympics, Alibaba has demonstrated the technological prowess behind this international sporting event. The head of Alibaba Cloud Media Department told Youth.cn reporters that Alibaba will feature a series of virtual technology applications at the Paris Olympics, including AI-supported 360-degree live streaming special effects and AI color restoration of black-and-white images.
The image shows a screenshot of a precious 100-year-old footage from the Paris Olympics, restored by Alibaba Cloud (provided by the interviewee).
Alibaba Cloud has restored historical footage from the 1924 Paris Olympics for the International Olympic Committee, transforming black-and-white images from 100 years ago into high-definition color footage to commemorate the return of the Summer Olympics to Paris after a century. Viewers can clearly experience the intense scenes of the Olympic competitions from a century ago through this footage.
The head of Alibaba Cloud Media further explained that this year's Paris Olympics will also feature a new multi-camera replay system enhanced by Alibaba Cloud AI, offering "bullet time" special effects similar to those in sci-fi movies. This allows the broadcast to provide slow-motion freeze frames, enabling viewers to experience immersive multi-angle views of athletes with enhanced slow-motion and time-stopping effects.
Meanwhile, Chinese companies like SenseTime and Lenovo have also brought their cutting-edge virtual technologies to the Paris Olympics to support AI-assisted training for national teams. For instance, SenseTime has developed AI-assisted training for the Chinese national basketball team by constructing 3D venue models and 3D motion capture algorithms. These technologies can analyze each basketball player's movement and the trajectory of the ball in real-time, providing data analysis and strategic optimization support.
In addition to customized solutions for athletes, virtual technology has also enhanced the viewing experience for audiences with AR-assisted viewing. SenseTime has provided intelligent broadcasting technology for the table tennis and archery events at this year's Olympics. Using 3D motion capture technology without any wearable devices, it captures spatial movement information in real-time. This allows the presentation of the ping-pong ball's landing points, spin direction and speed, and the arrows' flight trajectory in AR, delivering these details to viewers on screen.
The head of Alibaba Cloud Media further explained that this year's Paris Olympics will also feature a new multi-camera replay system enhanced by Alibaba Cloud AI, offering "bullet time" special effects similar to those in sci-fi movies. This allows the broadcast to provide slow-motion freeze frames, enabling viewers to experience immersive multi-angle views of athletes with enhanced slow-motion and time-stopping effects.
Meanwhile, Chinese companies like SenseTime and Lenovo have also brought their cutting-edge virtual technologies to the Paris Olympics to support AI-assisted training for national teams. For instance, SenseTime has developed AI-assisted training for the Chinese national basketball team by constructing 3D venue models and 3D motion capture algorithms. These technologies can analyze each basketball player's movement and the trajectory of the ball in real-time, providing data analysis and strategic optimization support.
In addition to customized solutions for athletes, virtual technology has also enhanced the viewing experience for audiences with AR-assisted viewing. SenseTime has provided intelligent broadcasting technology for the table tennis and archery events at this year's Olympics. Using 3D motion capture technology without any wearable devices, it captures spatial movement information in real-time. This allows the presentation of the ping-pong ball's landing points, spin direction and speed, and the arrows' flight trajectory in AR, delivering these details to viewers on screen.
AI Zhang Yufei created by iFlytek (provided by the interviewee).
Not only for watching the events, the empowerment of virtual technology allows audiences to easily have "face-to-face" chats with Olympic champions. A representative from iFlytek’s publicity department stated in an interview with Youth.cn that the iFlytek Zhizuo platform has created virtual athletes—AI Zhang Yufei and AI Zou Jingyuan—for this year's Olympics. Utilizing advanced virtual human technology, the appearance, body shape, and expressions of the two athletes have been rendered with 1:1 high fidelity, enabling seamless communication in Chinese, English, and French.
"Chinese companies are shining brightly at the globally watched Paris Olympics through virtual technology, showcasing the confidence and athletic prowess of Chinese athletes with technology. This essentially presents the world with a strong demonstration of cutting-edge technology with distinctly Chinese characteristics," Zhang Qing remarked.
"Chinese companies are shining brightly at the globally watched Paris Olympics through virtual technology, showcasing the confidence and athletic prowess of Chinese athletes with technology. This essentially presents the world with a strong demonstration of cutting-edge technology with distinctly Chinese characteristics," Zhang Qing remarked.
Virtual Technology: A Creative Goldmine for Sports Events
"If it weren't for Alibaba, there wouldn't be Olympic artificial intelligence." On July 27, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach acknowledged Alibaba's significant technological breakthroughs over the past seven years during the opening ceremony of the "Alibaba Gallery" on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, highlighting the high praise for Chinese companies.
In recent years, as technologies like AI, VR, and AR have matured and been applied, virtual industry technology has accelerated its empowerment of the sports industry, and Chinese companies are setting sail. According to the aforementioned Alibaba representative, the "bullet time" effect using Alibaba Cloud AI technology, featured in this year's Paris Olympics, was first applied during the curling and speed skating events at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Beyond Alibaba, an increasing number of Chinese companies are leveraging virtual technology to capitalize on sports events. During the 19th Asian Games held in 2023, domestic companies utilized AR, VR, and other technologies to creatively showcase the spirit of athletic competition and the charm of athletes.
According to previous media reports, as an official partner and technical service provider for the Asian Games, Alipay used technology to enhance the opening ceremony with two classic moments of digital and physical integration that allowed everyone to participate: over 100 million digital torchbearers ran in the Alipay app to ignite the main torch, achieving the world's first digital lighting ceremony; and 10,000 audience members at the venue released wishing lanterns through Alipay to summon the mascot, marking the world's first large-scale AR interactive achievement in a performance.
Additionally, as the creative design partner for the Asian Games, the cultural performance company Fengshang Culture showcased applications of artificial intelligence, AR, and VR technologies during the opening ceremony.
Earlier, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, ByteDance's VR brand PICO created various VR viewing scenarios, including "World Cup Main Venue" and "World Cup Carnival Night," allowing fans to watch live broadcasts of World Cup matches on ultra-high-definition giant screens while wearing VR headsets. PICO also constructed virtual fan squares and virtual fan bars using VR technology, enabling users to join different fan groups to cheer for their teams and chat with star hosts while watching the games.
Moreover, China Mobile's Migu Company created the world's first all-scene digital and physical fusion "Metaverse World Cup Music Festival" during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, utilizing 5G and VR technologies to broadcast the matches and provide Chinese fans with a surreal experience.
In recent years, as technologies like AI, VR, and AR have matured and been applied, virtual industry technology has accelerated its empowerment of the sports industry, and Chinese companies are setting sail. According to the aforementioned Alibaba representative, the "bullet time" effect using Alibaba Cloud AI technology, featured in this year's Paris Olympics, was first applied during the curling and speed skating events at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Beyond Alibaba, an increasing number of Chinese companies are leveraging virtual technology to capitalize on sports events. During the 19th Asian Games held in 2023, domestic companies utilized AR, VR, and other technologies to creatively showcase the spirit of athletic competition and the charm of athletes.
According to previous media reports, as an official partner and technical service provider for the Asian Games, Alipay used technology to enhance the opening ceremony with two classic moments of digital and physical integration that allowed everyone to participate: over 100 million digital torchbearers ran in the Alipay app to ignite the main torch, achieving the world's first digital lighting ceremony; and 10,000 audience members at the venue released wishing lanterns through Alipay to summon the mascot, marking the world's first large-scale AR interactive achievement in a performance.
Additionally, as the creative design partner for the Asian Games, the cultural performance company Fengshang Culture showcased applications of artificial intelligence, AR, and VR technologies during the opening ceremony.
Earlier, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, ByteDance's VR brand PICO created various VR viewing scenarios, including "World Cup Main Venue" and "World Cup Carnival Night," allowing fans to watch live broadcasts of World Cup matches on ultra-high-definition giant screens while wearing VR headsets. PICO also constructed virtual fan squares and virtual fan bars using VR technology, enabling users to join different fan groups to cheer for their teams and chat with star hosts while watching the games.
Moreover, China Mobile's Migu Company created the world's first all-scene digital and physical fusion "Metaverse World Cup Music Festival" during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, utilizing 5G and VR technologies to broadcast the matches and provide Chinese fans with a surreal experience.
"Virtual + Sports" Accelerates Innovation in Industry Ecosystems
With the rapid advancement of technology, the empowerment of virtual reality technologies such as AI, VR, and AR is reshaping various industries, and the integration of "virtual + sports" is further accelerating innovation in industry ecosystems. According to iiMedia Research, China's virtual sports industry is experiencing explosive growth, with projections estimating the industry will reach 115.2 billion yuan by 2025, a year-on-year increase of 25.7%.
Wang Zongping, Dean of the School of Physical Education at Yunnan University and Dean of the Institute of Sports Business at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, told Youth.cn that the popularization and promotion of advanced technologies like AI, VR, and AR in recent years have allowed virtual technology to further integrate into the sports industry. This is beneficial for strengthening youth sports education and promoting physical activity among the general population.
"Unlike traditional sports, which are limited to specific venues, the integration of virtual technology allows the public to engage in their favorite sports through virtual and human-computer interactive formats, utilizing technologies such as VR and AR. For example, virtual table tennis enables players to 'compete' with Ma Long from home," Wang explained.
Currently, new forms of sports such as virtual cycling, virtual basketball, virtual climbing, and skiing are gradually becoming popular trends for healthy living. For instance, the Shanghai Virtual Sports Open, which started in April last year, is the first comprehensive virtual sports event in the country, featuring virtual cycling, virtual rowing, virtual golf, virtual racing, and virtual skiing. The event lasted seven months, covering 34 cities nationwide and attracting over 15,000 participants.
With technology empowering competition, "virtual + sports" is also unleashing unprecedented vitality. In 2022, the General Administration of Sport of China, in collaboration with multiple departments, released the "Action Plan for the Integrated Development of Virtual Reality and Industry Applications (2022-2026)," which includes key points such as "supporting the development of sports projects integrated with virtual reality technology" and "enhancing public awareness of virtual fitness."
Zhang Qing believes that the integration of virtual technology and sports has far-reaching significance not only for athletic competition itself, such as enhancing athletes' performance, efficiency, and scientific rigor but also for significantly impacting the ecological construction of the sports industry.
"Virtual technology is reshaping the sports industry, bringing about technological innovations, changes in consumer scenarios, and driving the development of related industries such as sports goods, enriching the application scenarios of wearable devices, improving the intelligence of sports equipment, and expanding the breadth and depth of application scenarios," Zhang stated. He believes that under the empowerment of virtual technology, the future of the sports industry will have limitless possibilities, fully supporting the development of the sports sector.
Wang Zongping further advises that amidst the wave of "virtual + sports" industry development, the public should adopt a rational approach. Individuals should choose suitable sports projects and intensities in their daily virtual competitions and embrace technology with a balanced perspective.
Wang Zongping, Dean of the School of Physical Education at Yunnan University and Dean of the Institute of Sports Business at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, told Youth.cn that the popularization and promotion of advanced technologies like AI, VR, and AR in recent years have allowed virtual technology to further integrate into the sports industry. This is beneficial for strengthening youth sports education and promoting physical activity among the general population.
"Unlike traditional sports, which are limited to specific venues, the integration of virtual technology allows the public to engage in their favorite sports through virtual and human-computer interactive formats, utilizing technologies such as VR and AR. For example, virtual table tennis enables players to 'compete' with Ma Long from home," Wang explained.
Currently, new forms of sports such as virtual cycling, virtual basketball, virtual climbing, and skiing are gradually becoming popular trends for healthy living. For instance, the Shanghai Virtual Sports Open, which started in April last year, is the first comprehensive virtual sports event in the country, featuring virtual cycling, virtual rowing, virtual golf, virtual racing, and virtual skiing. The event lasted seven months, covering 34 cities nationwide and attracting over 15,000 participants.
With technology empowering competition, "virtual + sports" is also unleashing unprecedented vitality. In 2022, the General Administration of Sport of China, in collaboration with multiple departments, released the "Action Plan for the Integrated Development of Virtual Reality and Industry Applications (2022-2026)," which includes key points such as "supporting the development of sports projects integrated with virtual reality technology" and "enhancing public awareness of virtual fitness."
Zhang Qing believes that the integration of virtual technology and sports has far-reaching significance not only for athletic competition itself, such as enhancing athletes' performance, efficiency, and scientific rigor but also for significantly impacting the ecological construction of the sports industry.
"Virtual technology is reshaping the sports industry, bringing about technological innovations, changes in consumer scenarios, and driving the development of related industries such as sports goods, enriching the application scenarios of wearable devices, improving the intelligence of sports equipment, and expanding the breadth and depth of application scenarios," Zhang stated. He believes that under the empowerment of virtual technology, the future of the sports industry will have limitless possibilities, fully supporting the development of the sports sector.
Wang Zongping further advises that amidst the wave of "virtual + sports" industry development, the public should adopt a rational approach. Individuals should choose suitable sports projects and intensities in their daily virtual competitions and embrace technology with a balanced perspective.