The Chief Information Technology Officer at the IOC, Ilario Corna, was a special guest at the forum "Artificial Intelligence and Sport - Advantages and Challenges," organized by the NSA and Vesela Lecheva. The event was opened by the Minister of Youth and Sports Ivan Peshev, Deputy Minister of Education Natalia Miteva, and the Rector of NSA, Prof. Krasimir Petkov. Among the attendees were the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Sports Gabriel Valkov, the Secretary General of the BOC Belcho Goranov, heads of sports federations, lecturers, students, and journalists.

AI at the Olympic Games

"At the Olympic Games in Paris, artificial intelligence was used in areas many did not even suspect - from security and logistics systems to the analysis of sports performances. We optimized the organization, improved the spectator experience, and television presentation. The Olympic Games must be innovative and accessible to the public, and AI helps us achieve this," stated Ilario Corna.

The Olympic Artificial Intelligence Program is among the strategic initiatives of the IOC and will continue to develop, providing technological solutions for national Olympic committees.

AI, officiating, and volleyball

"Officiating is a labyrinth of rules and nuances, but artificial intelligence can assist even the best referees, minimizing errors without displacing humans from the center of the process. This is already evident in various sports, including volleyball, where video systems and algorithms have significantly improved the accuracy of decisions. Technologies will continue to evolve, but they must always serve sport and its values," Corna emphasized.

The IOC plans to expand AI in sports officiating, leveraging experience gained from major competitions, including the Olympic Games and professional leagues.