International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has spoken about the supportive role of artificial intelligence (AI) in sports and how both athletes and spectators can benefit from the advancement in technology.
In a recent interview with China Media Group, Bach emphasized that, like all sectors of society, the sports world must embrace technological progress while maintaining its human-centered approach.
"AI, as you said before, will influence our daily lives. And sport is not living on an island of society. We are in the middle of society. You cannot close the doors for AI in sport. What you have to do, where in sport, we are maybe in a unique position -- it's to ensure the human-centered approach or the way. In sport, it is not about this ultimate ethical question -- whether AI will finally replace the human being, or even govern the human being. In sport, the 100 meters will always have to be run by an athlete, by a human being," he said.
Speaking about the impact of artificial intelligence on sports, Bach highlighted its potential to enhance both athlete performance and the spectator experience. He emphasized that AI should be seen as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human involvement, helping to refine training programs, improve officiating, and create a more engaging environment for fans.
"Therefore we can concentrate very much, in sport, on the supportive effect of AI. Then the spectators will enjoy, because they will see athletes who are better trained than they can be trained now because the training programs will be much more personalized. They will be in a much better way, able to follow refereeing in judging, in a number of sports. You will have less human error. In the end, with together effects of AI, for the spectator, create a much more immersive experience of following the Olympic Games," he said.
AI is supportive tool to elevate sports, enhance fan experience: IOC president
The airstrike conducted by Saudi-led coalition targeting the port of Mukalla in Yemen's oil-rich Hadramout province early Tuesday morning has caused severe damage to nearby residential buildings and left locals terrified.
According to the coalition, the strike targeted weapons and combat vehicles allegedly unloaded at the port from two unauthorized ships that arrived from the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the weekend.
Coalition spokesman Turki Al Maliki said the vessels had disabled their tracking systems and delivered a large cache of arms intended to bolster the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's Hadramout and Al-Mahra provinces, a move he described as a "clear violation" of the UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015.
He said the operation was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules, ensuring that no collateral damage occurred.
However, local residents offered a different account, describing scenes of chaos and destruction in the pre-dawn hours following the strike.
"As you can see, this is the severe damage that occurred to our home as a result of the airstrike that targeted the Mukalla port, specifically military vehicles that were next to the house, about 20 to 40 meters away. At exactly 04:30, the location was targeted with a surprise airstrike, and we were shocked by the sudden violent explosions," said Salem Ali Al-Haj Zaid, a local resident.
Another resident, Um Ali, described the psychological toll on children.
"The children kept crying from the time of the strike until morning. Poor things, they were shocked, scared and unable to sleep again," said Ali.
The strike hit especially hard for Um Mohammed, a widow living on the top floor of a residential building near the port.
"We were terrified. My mother is old. The most damage was to the floor of the building where I live, and I am a widow. Who will compensate us for this?" said Mohammed.
The reported attacks come amid heightened military escalation in Hadramout, where Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have warned of possible military action following the STC's refusal to withdraw its forces from the governorate.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition called on all civilians to immediately evacuate the port of Mukalla to ensure their safety, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.
Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout governorate, is a key port city on Yemen's southeastern coast, with strategic and economic value.
Saudi-led airstrike on Yemen's Mukalla port damages homes, sparking fear among locals
