Intel using AI to scout Olympic talent in rural regions

Intel, the official worldwide AI platform partner for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is leveraging AI technology to scout for potential sporting stars in rural and regional areas. This initiative aims at identifying talent in remote locations, thereby reducing the physical, time, and financial constraints traditionally associated with scouting.

This AI-driven scouting platform is designed to level the playing field by expanding the reach of talent scouts. Unlike conventional methods that require expensive, specialised equipment, this app can be utilised on any device equipped with a camera. The AI platform analyses video footage using computer vision, delivering crucial statistics to scouts.

Caroline Rhoades, the marketing manager for the Olympic & Paralympic Games Partner at Intel’s Sales, Marketing and Communications Group, said, "This AI platform designed for talent identification not only uncovers hidden talent but also helps to bridge an existing gap."

In March, Intel partnered with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to deploy the AI application in Senegal. The African nation was selected prior to Dakar's hosting of the Youth Olympic Games in 2026. Representatives from Intel and the IOC visited six Senegalese villages to utilise the talent identification app on over 1,000 children, assessing their physical abilities to catch the attention of the Senegalese National Olympic Committee.

The physical and cognitive tests, which lasted only minutes, included the analysis of more than 1,000 biomechanical data points to measure aspects such as speed, acceleration, burst power, agility, and the ability to change direction. Rhoades noted, "As time passes, the hope is that this technology can help increase the chances for every aspiring athlete to have the opportunity to shine on the global stage."

To support the app, Intel leveraged additional technology, including edge devices running on Intel Xeon processors for video processing, real-time computer vision, and biomechanical data analysis. Other technologies used in the initiative included Intel Gaudi AI accelerators for improved efficiency of model training, AI models optimised with OpenVINO, and Intel Core= Ultra notebooks for real-time inferencing.

The AI platform technology completed the labour-intensive tasks of analysing, scoring, and ranking each video, providing scouts, coaches, and national governing bodies with a quantitative dataset of raw physical prowess to review. The results from this initiative in Senegal highlighted 40 children who showcased significant talent out of the 1,000 participants.