Industry News

by sportswriter Liu Yang

FUZHOU, China, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Swimmers are adjusting their strokes with the help of underwater cameras and AI algorithms, humanoid robots are completing half-marathons, and a sportswear company is using AI-generated designs for uniforms.

These are examples of how digital technology is rapidly reshaping the landscape of sports in China.

"By 2030, we aim to build a digital sports community that is ubiquitous, intelligent, precise, secure, efficient and open," said Zhu Han, deputy director of sports information under the General Administration of Sport of China.

INVISIBLE COACH

In April 2024, the International Olympic Committee launched the Olympic AI Agenda, encouraging the global sports community to embrace artificial intelligence.

Google's DeepMind team analyzed corner kick data from Liverpool FC and developed TacticAI, an AI assistant for football tactics. IBM Watsonx partnered with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to improve viewer experience and broadcast workflows. Google also built a video-based analysis system for the U.S. ski team, helping athletes refine their technique.

In China, similar tools are now being deployed across multiple sports.

"Digital intelligence is shifting sports from experience-driven to data-driven, and from human-driven to intelligence-driven," said Shen Yanfei, dean of the sports engineering school at Beijing Sport University.

Shen's team has developed an AI-powered analysis system for swimming. Using high-speed cameras above and below water, the system quantifies core metrics such as lap speed and segment timing, while AI algorithms analyze starting posture and technical details of each stroke. It also offers video review, data annotation and automatic report generation, helping coaches make precise adjustments.

"A similar system has also been used in long jump training, and it reconstructs every moving detail to guide technique optimization," Shen said.

RESHAPING INDUSTRY, BOOSTING INNOVATION

Li-Ning, one of China's leading sportswear brands, is using AI in production development.

Yang Fan, senior director of the company's sports science research center, said his team traveled to Kenya's Iten, a famed distance running hub, last year. Using portable devices to analyze key body moves of elite marathoners, they synthesized 3D running posture data. Those insights help optimize running shoes for top athletes and eventually benefit mass runners.

According to Yang, Li-Ning's AI applications now cover design assistance, virtual sampling, materials recommendation and trend forecasting. In supply chain and merchandising, pilot projects include smart production scheduling and intelligent replenishment. At stores, AI-powered customer service and virtual try-on are being tested.

Anta Sports, another major Chinese sportswear group, launched its "AI365" strategy last year. The plan uses AI to cut costs, boost efficiency, drive growth and improve users' experience.

Zhang Tao, a vice president at Anta, said the company has explored AI applications from design to manufacture, with designers' creative proposals jumping by 400%.

"Digital technology has deeply embedded itself into the entire sports industry chain, becoming an important growth driver," said Jiang Xiaojuan, director of China's national expert advisory committee for data.

SMART FITNESS ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

Digital technology is also bringing science-backed fitness within reach of ordinary people.

Zhu said China's national fitness information service platform already links national and regional levels, piloting "one network for mass fitness". It integrates resources such as gyms and scientific guidance. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will promote "fitness code" and explore a point-based system, known as "sports banking".

According to Shen, wearable devices and fitness apps now translate workout results into precise data, such as heartbeat, oxygen intake, training load and fatigue index.

"That helps people understand how to exercise and do it safely. Smart fitness devices can generate instant health analysis for the users," he said.