World Taekwondo pilots IOC Trustworthy AI Framework for LA28 Olympics
World Taekwondo has partnered with the International Olympic Committee to pilot a new Trustworthy AI Framework, which will include standardized AI decision-support systems for event officiating. The governing body is simultaneously developing AI-enhanced broadcast features, such as first-person perspective streaming and biometric graphics, to improve engagement levels for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Key Takeaways
- World Taekwondo is the first International Federation to pilot the IOC Trustworthy AI Framework, hitting global rollout in August 2026.
- The FST.ai 2.5 decision-support system uses AI to classify high-speed kicks, having already undergone testing at five international Opens in 2026.
- Broadcasting plans for LA28 include automated athlete commentary and real-time acoustic sound design powered by AI.
- Research from UC Berkeley proposes computer vision models trained on pre-electronic data to nullify 'unorthodox' scoring techniques and reward authentic martial arts forms.
Why It Matters
The formalization of the IOC’s AI framework marks a pivot from experimental use cases to standardized, governed implementation across Olympic disciplines. For the streaming technology stack, this mandates ultra-low latency pipelines to support real-time biometric overlays and first-person POV feeds from wearable devices like Meta’s smart glasses. As World Taekwondo moves to blend computer vision with scoring, it provides a blueprint for how technical officiating can stabilize the 'fairness vs. entertainment' debate currently affecting niche sports. Watch for the FST.ai 2.5 rollout data at upcoming Grand Prix events to gauge AI's impact on match speed.
Additional Context
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially launched its Olympic AI Agenda in April 2024, outlining a strategic roadmap to use artificial intelligence for talent identification, refereeing accuracy, and broadcast personalization. Per the IOC, this agenda seeks to preserve 'human-centric' competition while leveraging technology to manage the massive scale of the Games. This strategic shift was evident during the Paris 2024 Olympics, where worldwide partner Intel deployed AI-automated highlight generation and end-to-end 8K OTT broadcast workflows. According to Intel (November 2024), these systems processed 11,000 hours of content to deliver tailored highlights across more than 30 sports.
Broadcasters are increasingly using AI to solve the high-volume content demands of the digital age. NBCUniversal utilized an AI-generated likeness of sportscaster Al Michaels for personalized daily recaps on Peacock during the Paris 2024 Games. Per NBCUniversal (June 2024), the 'Your Daily Olympic Recap' feature generated nearly 7 million unique versions, addressing subscribers by name and tailoring footage to preferred events. This trend toward hyper-personalization is mirrored by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which reported record engagement for Max and Discovery+ in Europe. WBD used AI for real-time language management and subtitling across 20 languages to manage 110 digital channels concurrently, per Grass Valley (October 2024).
World Taekwondo’s move to incorporate Meta Ray-Ban glasses for referee-perspective streaming aligns with a broader industry push toward 'subjective' angles. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, referees were equipped with stabilized 'ref-cam' headsets that transmitted first-person views to TV replays in near-instant time. According to Gizmodo (June 2026), these trials signify a transition where consumer-grade smart glass form factors are being refined for professional broadcast use. For sports like taekwondo, which have struggled with spectator engagement following the 2009 introduction of electronic scoring, these perspective-shifting tools are viewed as essential for regaining traditional martial arts dynamicism.
Read full article at insidethegames.biz
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