With competition so high for new athletic talent, nations globally are striving to uncover hidden talent faster. Nonetheless, wealthier countries, equipped with extensive scouting and coaching systems, typically identify more talent compared to marginalized nations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly establishing the framework to narrow this disparity.
In partnership with Intel, the Senegalese National Olympic Committee conducted a trial utilizing an AI-based application to identify potential athletic talent among 1,000 Senegalese children. This user-friendly application, downloadable on smartphones, evaluated children’s performances in various physical activities with AI, identified 40 individuals, and forwarded the data to the National Olympic Committee for their inclusion in a specialized program.
A similar technology, the aiScout application, is already helping the Premier League football clubs, such as Chelsea FC, discover up-and-coming talent. It allows players to record their skills, drills, and fitness data from anywhere using a smartphone. The AI then evaluates these submissions based on various metrics, such as speed, ball control, and technique making it possible for young athletes even in rural areas to get noticed by the top clubs. These innovations show promise in narrowing the gap and widening the pool of potential talent identification worldwide.
