If the world is to stay on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, then artificial intelligence (AI) in sport can be harnessed and leveraged to achieve those goals faster.
This was the conclusion at the 8th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development held recently in London.
The debate honors the memory of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace which is celebrated every year on April 6. This year, a panel of experts discussed the proposal, “Artificial Intelligence is the answer to accelerating the power of sport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The group advocating greater use of AI in ethical contexts won the debate. Both teams received certificates of participation for their insightful contribution. Speaking on behalf of the winning side, Sports TechX Co-Founder and CEO Rohn Malhotra noted that technology presents both risks and rewards.
He said:
“Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, but we need to approach it very carefully to prevent us from hindering the achievement of the SDG goals.”
The debate was hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with Sports for Development Coalitionon 26 March 2024. The hybrid debate, held at Marlborough House, was broadcast live to 56 member countries.
It attracted a virtual audience of over 200 people, including high-level athletes, academic experts, sports supporters and young people across the Commonwealth. Over 100 people attended the debate in person, including Commonwealth High Commissioners, senior government officials, representatives from accredited Commonwealth organizations and sports professionals.
Commenting on the power of sport to bring people together, Deputy Commonwealth Secretary-General Dr Arjoon Suddhoo said in his opening address:
“Sports is more than a game. It is the universal language that can transcend borders, cultures and backgrounds. This year’s debate will enable insightful conversations around the opportunities and threats of AI in the world of sport and examine how AI-led solutions can impact social development in health, education and youth engagement.” .
He continued:
“The issue is perfectly aligned with the Secretary-General’s vision of harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for the benefit of our Commonwealth citizens, particularly our young people.
“Last September, on the wings of the UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General launched the Artificial Intelligence Commonwealth (CAIC), which includes global technology companies, world-leading research institutions, non-profit organizations and Commonwealth member countries who have stepped forward to advance artificial intelligence innovation across the Commonwealth’.
Sprint towards or away from SDG2030?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, set by the United Nations, recognizes sport as an important factor in sustainable development and peace. However, the lively debate raised questions about whether AI is keeping the world on track or pulling it away from achieving the 2030 SDGs.
Director of Research Programs at Barcelona’s School of Management and Philosophy of Law at Pompeu Fabra University, Professor Alberto Carrio, supported his argument against the proposal by citing cases of how discriminatory algorithms have affected women’s sport and increased inequalities between players and clubs.
In a rebuttal, Preeti Shetty, Founder and CEO of Upshot, talked about how AI is closing the gender gap even faster because it can use data to identify and highlight disparities , which would enhance fairness in sport and promote peace.
Reactions from sports fans
In her comments on how Commonwealth countries can tap into the potential industry that can be achieved through sport, the former Minister of Sport, Heritage and Culture in Kenya and the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sport, Business and of Development, Ambassador Amina Mohammed, said:
“We predict that intra-Commonwealth exports will grow steadily over the next five years, surpassing US$1 trillion by 2026. Facilitating intra-Commonwealth trade, especially by small and medium-sized enterprises, will be important.
“Platforms such as the Intra-Commonwealth Media Association – or ICSA – could enable us to support key Commonwealth events such as the Commonwealth Games and CHOGM.”
In addition to the points made by the panelists, strong contributions were also made by members of the audience gathered in the room and over 400 at “X” online. They ranged from the unprecedented opportunities AI presents for the sports industry to operate at scale, to the threats to sporting integrity arising from the unintended consequences of adopting AI-based solutions without strong legal and ethical frameworks.
Additionally, other audience members suggested leveraging the data to bridge the gap between larger and smaller nations. Participants also reiterated the need to create smart tools to collect, analyze and demonstrate that sports positively impact social development. Some of the young people in the audience called on sports and technology companies to embrace AI for good by focusing on social development in education, health and youth participation.
Artificial intelligence is also the focus of much of the Commonwealth’s work. This month will see the launch of the AI Academy, which will feature free online learning options to help Commonwealth citizens harness the power of artificial intelligence. One of the first lessons, AI for the youth, edited by tech giant Intel in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat. The course offers six short and informative modules to help upskill the 2.5 billion citizens across the Commonwealth.
Watch the full discussion
Media contact
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Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Department, Commonwealth Secretariat