Alibaba Group, a Worldwide TOP Partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), through its digital technology and intelligence backbone, Alibaba Cloud, has played a pivotal role in transforming the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 (Milano Cortina 2026) into a landmark event for technological innovation. By integrating a comprehensive suite of advanced cloud and AI-driven solutions, Alibaba Cloud has significantly enhanced sustainability initiatives, optimized operational efficiencies, redefined broadcasting capabilities, and introduced the first application of large language model (LLM) technologies within the Olympic Movement.
Kirsty Coventry, International Olympic Committee President, lauded the technological advancements, stating, "Every Olympic Games leaves its own mark in terms of technological innovation. With Alibaba’s Cloud technologies and Qwen models, these Games have set a new benchmark for intelligence and creativity."
Dr. Feifei Li, Senior Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group and President of International Business, emphasized the significance of these innovations: "Milano Cortina 2026 marks a milestone with the first use of LLM technologies in the Olympic history powered by Alibaba's Qwen models. Our cloud and AI-powered systems that supported Milano Cortina 2026 demonstrate our dedication to enabling smarter operations, deeper engagement, and new possibilities for the Olympic Movement."
Advancing Sustainability Through Intelligent Cloud Solutions
Alibaba Cloud's commitment to sustainability was evident through the deployment of AI-driven solutions and energy-efficient cloud infrastructure, enabling Milano Cortina 2026 to meticulously measure and analyze carbon emissions. This initiative establishes a replicable model for future host cities to achieve more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible Olympic Games.
Key sustainability systems developed and deployed include:
- Enhanced Energy Data Management System: Implemented across all competition venues, this system provided the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee and the IOC with real-time monitoring and analysis of energy consumption and carbon emissions. Complementing this, an Intelligent Chatbot, powered by Alibaba’s Qwen large language models, offered staff instant access to historical and real-time insights on electricity usage and contingency planning for power demand.
- Energy Issue Tracking System: This system digitized workflows for identifying, escalating, and resolving energy anomalies, ensuring rapid responses and significantly improving operational efficiency.
- Codeveloped Sustainability Platform: This platform enabled organizers to assess the full lifecycle environmental footprint of Milano Cortina 2026, with a strategic focus on generating long-term benefits for local communities.
Revolutionizing Operational Efficiency Across a Geographically Diverse Games
Milano Cortina 2026 presented unique logistical challenges, spanning over 22,000 square kilometers across northern Italy’s alpine mountains and historic cities, making it the most geographically dispersed Winter Games in Olympic history. Alibaba Cloud’s systems were instrumental in facilitating game judging, coordinating logistics, and streamlining operations to ensure the seamless execution of the event.
Notable efficiency-enhancing systems and services include:
- Sophisticated Video Adjudication System: Debuting at Milano Cortina 2026, this system, built on Alibaba Cloud's low-latency livestreaming technology, was integrated into the core competition infrastructure. It enhanced officiating precision by synchronizing multi-signal video feeds, assisting referees in foul identification, and providing immediate arbitration playback for scoring disputes. This technology was successfully deployed in Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Slopestyle events, ensuring accuracy for judging panels.
- Transportation Management System (TMS): Built on Alibaba Cloud, the TMS seamlessly connected venues across vast distances, providing precise mobility assurance for over 80,000 Olympic stakeholders, including IOC staff, athletes, volunteers, media, and key personnel. The Milano Cortina 2026 Transport App, alongside related system services, offered personalized journey planning and real-time updates via connected official transport services.
- Comprehensive Operational Service Applications: A range of critical applications, from an e-voucher system for meals serving tens of thousands of Olympic stakeholders to a meteorological service portal delivering real-time weather information for competition safety, all operated on Alibaba Cloud’s stable and resilient infrastructure.
- Apsara Video Technology: This technology powered cloud-based live streaming and broadcasting for Milano Cortina 2026, enabling global media access to press conferences, IOC daily briefings, and post-competition athlete interviews in real-time. The fully cloud-hosted Game Video Content Distribution service provided journalists with seamless video processing, editing, live and on-demand distribution, and secure download capabilities through Alibaba Cloud’s robust infrastructure.
AI-Powered Fan Engagement and Olympic Tradition Enhancement
Alibaba Cloud introduced innovative AI applications that enriched fan engagement and modernized cherished Olympic traditions:
- Intelligent Pin Trading Station: Located in the Milano Olympic Village, this AI-enabled station, powered by Alibaba’s Qwen model, offered a unique twist to the traditional pin trading. Combining embodied devices with an AI system capable of understanding both language and visuals, athletes could interact naturally using voice and gestures. The AI interpreted commands in real-time, guiding a robotic arm to select a pin left by a previous participant, facilitating over 8,000 exchanges and fostering deeper connections among athletes.
Intelligent Design: The Dawn of LLM Technologies in the Olympics
Milano Cortina 2026 marked a significant milestone with the pioneering use of LLM technologies, powered by Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen models, within the Olympic ecosystem. These advancements drove the IOC’s digital transformation, delivering a smarter and more connected Games. Qwen supported diverse applications, ranging from enhancing global fan engagement to streamlining information management and operational workflows.
Key AI-driven platforms included:
- Olympic AI Assistant, NOC AI Assistant, and Sports AI Platform: These platforms, built on Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure, facilitated multilingual fan interactions, intelligent content search, and large-scale media management. Collectively, these systems established new benchmarks for accessibility, efficiency, and intelligence within the Olympic environment.
Redefining Olympic Broadcasting Through Cloud Innovation
The collaboration with Alibaba Cloud significantly transformed Olympic broadcasting:
- OBS Live Cloud Platform: Powered by Alibaba Cloud, this platform revolutionized the production and delivery of the Olympic Games. By replacing traditional satellite operations, it provided flexible, scalable, and high-quality content distribution of 442 live video feeds for 42 broadcasters worldwide. This cloud-based approach led to a substantial reduction in physical footprint, with the Milano Cortina 2026 International Broadcasting Centre being 25% smaller than Beijing 2022 and 30% smaller than Pyeongchang 2018.
- Advanced AI Solutions in Broadcasting: Complementing the cloud platform were innovative AI solutions such as the Real-Time 360º Replay systems and the Qwen-powered Automatic Media Description System (AMD). These innovations modernized live production workflows, accelerated media turnaround speeds, and set a new standard for intelligent broadcasting. During Milano Cortina 2026, AMD processed livestream signals from 391 competition sessions, while Media Rights Holders (MRHs) gained access to 4,198 video highlights of exhilarating moments, all captured and produced by Alibaba Cloud's Real-Time 360º Replay systems.
Through its enduring partnership with the IOC, Alibaba Cloud continues to innovate and transform the Olympic Games, striving to create more sustainable, efficient, and intelligent experiences for participants and audiences globally.
