You may not be noticing it much on your television, smartphone or tablet screens, but the TV coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which of course are being held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) are infused with big data and AI to an extent never before experienced in the history of the Olympic games. It's been 53 years since the Olympics officially adopted electronic time-keeping equipment to track racers in Olympic events. Omega's Magic Eye camera, which debuted in 1948, gave us the first of many "photo finishes" for track events, and was soon adopted in other events as well. Now the technology is cranking up a notch in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which perhaps should have been called the 2021 games), and Omega is again behind much of it. For example, Omega, which is the official timekeeper for 35 Olympic sports, is using cameras equipped with computer vision capabilities to track the movement of beach volleyball players, as well as the ball in play.

It might not be obvious from the TV coverage, but the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which of course are being held in 2021) are infused with big data and AI to an extent never before experienced in an Olympic games. It's been 53 years since the Olympics officially adopted electronic time-keeping equipment to track racers in Olympic events. Omega's Magic Eye camera, which debuted in 1948, gave us the first of many "photo-finish" for track events, and was soon adopted in other events too. Now the technology is going up a notch in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (which perhaps should have been called the 2021 games), and Omega is behind much of it. For example, Omega, which is the official timekeeper for 35 Olympic sports, is using cameras equipped with computer vision capabilities to track the movement of beach volleyball players, as well as the ball.

That tricky question is back. As the 2018 Asian Games start in Indonesia, for the first time, the competition will include video gamers alongside the likes of athletes, swimmers and weightlifters. Although it is a demonstration sport this time, the plan is to make esports a full medal event in 2022, and the International Olympic Committee is considering it for the summer games. The impetus for its acceptance is growing. Esports is having a bit of a moment in the West (see New Scientist's video report, below), with pro …

The image of an Olympian is associated with physical prowess, a sculpted body chipped into perfection by years of careful maintenance and preparation. We expect these people to perform great feats of physicality better than the rest of us. That is why so many are scornful of the notion that competitive video gaming, or eSports as it's come to be known, should stand alongside other Olympic sports. The nascent field currently enjoys enormous attention and funding, even without IOC recognition. Last year, CNN noted that the global audience for eSports grew to 292 million, with some projecting this to almost double by 2019.