— Published on October 21, 2025

For AI, the CIO moves forward in the spotlight

Events Focus

No observation round for the 2025 edition of the Smart Cities & Sport Summit, held until October 22 in Seoul. The event, initiated by the World Union of Olympic Cities, kicked off its two days of presentations, debates, and discussions with a bang this Tuesday. With a morning session dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, in line with the theme of this first edition in South Korea, "Technology and Sport: The E-Evolution."

To discuss this, an IOC representative, New Zealander Sarah Walker. A silver medalist in BMX at the London 2012 Games, she became a member of the Olympic body in 2016 via the Athletes' Commission, and she holds a number of roles and responsibilities related to AI and new technologies. At the top of the list is the vice-presidency of the Technology and Technical Innovation Commission, and, above all, a leading role within the working group formed in 2023 by Thomas Bach to develop the Olympic Agenda for AI.

Moving forward “in complete transparency”

His presentation at the 2025 Summit, delivered virtually, left no doubt among the many participants gathered at Seoul Olympic Parktel, one of the legacies of the 1988 Summer Games: the IOC is taking the issue of AI very seriously. Thomas Bach had made it one of the priorities of his mandate, before handing over to Kirsty Coventry. Clearly, actions follow words. Sarah Walker explained: " At the IOC, we have an agenda for AI. But we don't want to move too quickly because it's essential to move forward in this area with complete transparency. People need to have trust in what we're doing, and this issue is won through transparency. »

There's no shortage of avenues to explore. In Lausanne, AI isn't a topic to be pigeonholed into a single issue. Artificial intelligence will be everywhere. On every floor of the Olympic building. This is evidenced by the working group's desire to bring together around the table, in addition to the body's members and experts, a robust panel of representatives from the global TOP program partners, including Intel and Alibaba, and universities in Europe and the United States.

An unexpected example of how the IOC is approaching the issue of AI: detection. With a target whose potential is still often untapped: Africa. We have launched a talent selection program in Senegal in preparation for the 2026 Youth Games in Dakar, explained Sarah Walker. It has enabled us to retain 40 young athletes, identified thanks to AI for their qualities. We will now, still using AI, give them the opportunity to develop their potential and pursue a career in sport. »

Another avenue of work: training. Artificial intelligence can be used by athletes in their preparation, but also by coaches. It can notably help prevent or treat injuries. If I had been lucky enough to benefit from such a tool during my athletic career, I probably could have avoided two or three fractures. ", says the New Zealander.

The IOC also promises that AI will play a major role in the preparation and organization of the Olympic Games. The organization even assures, without fear of being wrong, that its contribution will allow for greater efficiency and reduced costs. With AI, it will be possible to adjust security and transport even more effectively for each session, for example, depending on schedules or crowds., explains Sarah Walker. It will also make it possible to replicate competition sites and carry out a much greater number of tests on all aspects of the organization, sometimes without even having to go there. »