#101 Athletes, Analytics and AI
The Foray of Advanced Technologies into Sport; Modi’s Singapore visit, Jaishankar in the Gulf, Germany and Switzerland
Today, Adya Madhavan describes the advances made in using AI-augmented technologies in the sporting ecosystem, followed by a cross-post from our Quad Bulletin where Vanshika Saraf discusses EAM Jaishankar’s visit to the GCC, Germany and Switzerland, along with PM Modi’s visit to Singapore last week and the Quad’s engagement with the island country.
Cyberpolitik: The Foray of Advanced Technologies into Sport
— Adya Madhavan
To evolve is to adopt new technologies rather than shirk at the thought of them, and the Paris Olympics are exemplary of this. While most discourse surrounding artificial intelligence discusses it in the context of economics, jobs, ethics or military conflicts, its foray into the sporting world has yet to be talked about to the same extent.
The 2024 Olympics AI charter details the guiding principles behind implementing AI in the Olympics. It sheds light on the sheer range of areas in which artificial intelligence has been implemented to improve the quality of the Olympic experience for stakeholders across the board– from athletes to spectators. The use of advanced technologies in the Olympics provides learnings for other countries and bodies looking to do the same. For India, a country that prioritises sports but falls behind in terms of infrastructure and training, artificial intelligence could be a game changer.
Partnering with Intel, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has utilised AI to provide solutions across various areas. One of the most widely discussed is using AI-augmented technologies to monitor social media feeds to protect and shield athletes from cyber abuse. The volume of posts and comments makes it virtually impossible for any human team to comb through, and AI can make a huge difference here, thanks to its ability to sift through vast amounts of data.
For viewers, instant AI-generated data makes it easier to understand sports such as diving, where it is harder to discern performance while watching. An artificial intelligence-powered chatbot enables athletes to clarify several of their queries and even find recommendations for things to do in and around the Olympic Village. Attendees also use AI-powered analytics to experiment and determine which sport they would be best suited to.
For the organisers, digital twinning of venues allows for planning and coordination using AI to predict needs and help streamline logistics. Artificial intelligence is also being developed for scouting purposes– a development that can potentially transform how scouting and recruitment occur. As a part of the initiative to utilise AI for the Olympics, earlier this year, AI-assisted technologies were used in Senegal to screen children performing basic physical functions and analyse their data to assess whether they showed Olympic potential. This development, in particular, is interesting because it speaks to the extent to which developing technologies can transform sports as we know it.
While the use of artificial intelligence and computer vision in the Olympics is being heralded for the creative uses of technology, they have been venturing into the sporting ecosystem for quite some time now. Hawk-Eye, a computer vision program most popular in tennis, compounds umpiring with its technology that is trained to determine whether or not a ball is out of bounds. Similarly, VAR (video assistant referee) technology is constantly being improved for football, which helps make better calls and review offsides. For the 2024-25 Premier League season, this is being combined with camera systems to develop ‘semi-automated offside technology’, further eliminating the risk of human error. AI has permeated into Major League Baseball, too. Utilising wearable technology that actively monitors athlete data, the Los Angeles Dodgers use predictive analysis facilitated by artificial intelligence for athlete health monitoring and injury prevention.
Going forward, technologies that incorporate AI can be deployed across a spectrum of functions in the sporting ecosystem. When it comes to monitoring and optimising the health of athletes, predictive analysis can be used for adaptive training regimes and nutritional plans tailored to the changing requirements of the human body.
Nutritionists and coaches can supplement their roles with artificial intelligence-powered decision support to make more informed choices. The value added by coaches’ familiarity with their athletes and their intuition, compounded with the data-driven approach of AI, has the potential to transform training, nutrition, strength and conditioning.
AI also has the potential to excel in areas where judgements are often affected by human error, such as making quick decisions on issues where referees are unsure. This can make sports fairer, eliminating human discretion from judgement calls. AI could also help with real-time strategy optimisation for sports, but there are ethical considerations about the fairness of using AI in such situations. As with the various use cases of AI in the Olympics, it has the potential to increase efficiency and logistics significantly. Where it could fall short is anything that requires more nuanced analysis, such as a certain context and level of intuition. While using AI to curb cyberbullying and harassment may be successful to an extent, we are yet to see how algorithms will navigate more context-specific uses of words and phrases.
India already struggles with maintaining a robust sporting ecosystem despite the popularity of sports in the country. Scouting was the biggest issue in the case of the U-17 football world cup reportedly– with not enough qualified personnel to go out into the country and seek out talented players. Most state sports departments suffer due to a shortage of coaches, with far too many players who don’t end up getting enough individual attention.
The same applies to sports physiotherapy– although the number of physiotherapists grows every year, so does the demand, and there is an increasing need for physiotherapists specialising in particular sports to be able to provide optimal support to athletes.
Learning from the ways in which AI has been deployed elsewhere, AI-augmented technologies can be selectively implemented in India’s sports ecosystem. Especially, in areas such as scouting, training and refereeing, where a lack of skilled professionals often serves as a major hurdle. Coming up with creative and cost effective solutions can facilitate India’s transformation into a leading sporting nation as well as a destination for international athletes to train and compete.
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Technopolitik X Quad Bulletin: Modi’s Singapore visit, Jaishankar in the Gulf, Germany and Switzerland
— Vanshika Saraf
Credits: Ministry of External Affairs, India
**This is cross-posted from the Takshashila Institution’s Quad Bulletin**
Gulf Cooperation Council Visit
During his visit to Riyadh in early September 2024, EAM Jaishankar participated in the first India-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The discussions revolved around strengthening ties in trade, energy security, and defence cooperation. A key outcome was the agreement on a Joint Action Plan (2024-2028), aiming to enhance collaboration across sectors like infrastructure development, transportation and culture. The focus was also on expediting negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could further boost India-GCC trade relations.
India has been working to strengthen its engagement with West Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood policy. Once focused primarily on oil imports, India's interactions with the region have expanded to include diverse areas such as technology, food security and agriculture.
Germany
In Berlin, Jaishankar’s visit concentrated on advancing India-Germany strategic relations. He held high-level meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, discussing a wide range of topics such as defence cooperation, green technology, and labour mobility. The discussions also laid the groundwork for the 7th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC), set for October 2024. A key element was the focus on expanding renewable energy cooperation and emerging technologies to address global challenges like climate change.
Switzerland
Jaishankar’s stop in Geneva highlighted India’s engagement with global multilateral institutions. He inaugurated a new building for India’s Permanent Missions to the UN and WTO and paid homage to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, reflecting India's commitment to social justice and inclusivity. The EAM also participated in a meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Mr. Ignazio Daniele Giovanni, focused on boosting trade and investment between India and EFTA states (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the Principality of Liechtenstein).
Strengthening Indo-Pacific Alliances: Modi's Singapore Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singapore from September 4 to 5 at the invitation of Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Both leaders emphasised the importance of the India-Singapore partnership, which has been growing steadily across sectors such as sustainability, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity. Modi's visit to Singapore comes after the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held late last month.
The two countries signed four Memorandums of Understanding in the areas of:
digital cooperation,
education and skills development,
health and medicine, and
semiconductor ecosystem cooperation.
One of the key outcomes of the visit was the decision to elevate the India-Singapore relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” to reflect the commitment of both sides to further deepen and broaden the bilateral relationship. They also discussed the potential for India and ASEAN to complement each other’s growth and build stronger supply chain linkages. They looked forward to celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, a significant milestone for both nations.
Singapore and the Quad
This was the first time the Quad was mentioned in an India-Singapore joint statement. Both nations welcomed the Quad's support for ASEAN centrality, including its agenda to support the priorities and needs of countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This follows the recent threat of a military conflict between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
While Singapore is not a formal member of the Quad, it maintains close ties with all four member states and supports the Quad’s initiatives, especially in areas like maritime security, supply chain resilience, and sustainable development. Since maritime domain awareness (MDA) is a focus area for the Quad, the Information Fusion Centre at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore has become an important node to tackle maritime security challenges, such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism.
The IFC serves as a fusion centre that collects and analyses data from various sources, including satellite imagery, shipping databases, and regional surveillance systems. It then shares this information with participating countries to enhance collective maritime security. This capability is crucial for the Quad’s goal of strengthening the IPMDA.
Economic Relationship
India and Singapore have a strong trading relationship underpinned by the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), signed in 2005. Singapore is India’s 8th largest trade partner and largest trade partner in ASEAN. It is also one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India. According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Singapore accounted for approximately 23% of total FDI inflows into India in the financial year 2022-2023.
The U.S. is one of Singapore’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), signed in 2004, was one of the first free trade agreements the U.S. entered with an Asian country.
Japan is also one of Singapore’s key Asian trading partners, having signed the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) in 2002. Their bilateral trade amounts to around $35 billion annually, with Japan’s primary exports being high-tech goods, machinery, and automotive products.
Australia and Singapore have a robust trading relationship, with bilateral trade exceeding $50 billion. This relationship is supported by the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), first signed in 2003 and updated in 2020. The key sectors include energy, education, financial services, and agriculture.
Hence, Singapore has Free Trade Agreements with all four Quad countries, facilitating trade, investment, and economic integration. It also plays the role of a stabilising presence in Southeast Asia, leveraging its strategic location and diplomatic network to support open trade and regional security in alignment with Quad's vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
India-Philippines Consultation Talks and Defence Cooperation
India and the Philippines recently held two high-level meetings: the 14th India-Philippines Policy Consultation Talks in New Delhi on September 9, 2024, and the 5th India-Philippines Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting in Manila on September 11, 2024. These discussions are part of the broader efforts by both nations to enhance bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in defence, security, and other strategic areas.
At the Policy Consultation Talks, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties within India's Act East Policy framework. They also exchanged views on critical regional issues, including ASEAN and the South China Sea developments. The JDCC meeting in Manila focused on consolidating defence cooperation further. Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and the Philippines' Senior Undersecretary of National Defence, Irineo Cruz Espino, co-chaired the meeting, which discussed enhancing joint military training, maritime security, and the defence industry.
India also invited the Philippines to participate in co-development and co-production initiatives to promote self-reliance in defence production. Both sides committed to addressing shared security challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and boosting defence collaboration through deals like the BrahMos Missile System that India delivered to the Philippines earlier this year.
Finally, the White House has confirmed that the Quad Leaders’ Summit 2024 will be held in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, 21st September. In the upcoming week, we will provide comprehensive coverage of the key topics and expected outcomes of the discussions.
What We're Reading (or Listening to)
[Policy Paper] Cooperate or Compete?: What Chinese Analysts Think of India’s ‘Global South’ Leadership, by Anushka Saxena
[Podcast] Pagers, Walkie-Talkies and Supply Chain Security, by KPM Das and Pranay Kotasthane
[Opinion] Enhancing India’s space-tech manufacturing ecosystem, by Air Marshall TD Joseph (Retd)