At the Apsara Conference 2025 in Hangzhou, China, Alibaba Cloud, the International Skating Union (ISU), and ThinkSport, with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), officially unveiled the Sports Data Hack Challenge, an AI Hackathon targeting the international sports innovation community. Running from October to December 2025, the challenge will require participants to design AI-powered solutions addressing real-world needs in sport.
The initiative was announced jointly by Dr. Feifei Li, SVP of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group; Li Jiao, Chief of Commercial and Marketing, ISU; and Claudine Breton, General Director, ThinkSport.
Participants will gain access to real ISU data and advanced tools from Alibaba Cloud to develop solutions in areas such as:
- AI-driven music generation for skating programs
- Data-driven storytelling in sport
- Product prototypes addressing business and fan engagement challenges
The best projects will not only be showcased on a global stage but may also transition into commercial opportunities, advancing the integration of AI into the sports ecosystem.
For more information on how to register and join the challenge, visit: https://thinksport.org/innovation/ or send an email to datahack.challenge@thinksport.org.