The vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Authority for Sports and Chairman of the Bahraini Olympic Committee, continues to push the Kingdom of Bahrain towards the forefront of states in integrating artificial intelligence in the sports sector, which is clearly evident in his sponsorship of His Highness the successive copies of the Bahrain International Virtual Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Sports.
This conference, which is held in its third edition, hosts a group of international speakers from prestigious universities and sports institutions. The care of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the continuous care of this conference, shows the extent of His Highness’s keenness and great interest in developing Bahraini sport by adopting artificial intelligence techniques and modern technology.
Youth sport has always been more than just a competition; It is a way to teach discipline, building personality, and promoting teamwork. However, with increasing concerns about access, safety and quality of training, artificial intelligence appears as a practical tool to support young athletes, without replacing the human ties that give sport its true meaning.
Among the most promising developments is the use of artificial intelligence to customize training. Instead of following a general routine, young athletes can now take advantage of systems that follow their individual performance, and adjust exercises based on their progress. These platforms can measure variables such as movement, timing, and skills, allowing athletes to work on aspects that need to be improved.
In many youth academies, this approach helps players to maintain enthusiasm and development according to their own string, especially in places where the number of coaches is limited and the time allocated to each player is few.
Artificial intelligence also helps prevent injuries before they occur.
Many sports injuries in youth are caused by excessive fatigue or use, which are factors that are difficult to discover without accurate monitoring. Through simple digital records, athletes can report their daily condition, and artificial intelligence tools analyze these data to discover early signs of fatigue or stress.
In sports that require frequent movements, this pre -emptive approach helps protect young athletes during their critical years of growth, by detecting precise deviations in health indicators or in movement mechanics that may indicate fatigue.
Trainers can then adjust time training schedules to protect their developing bodies.
Another field in which artificial intelligence has a clear impact, which is to expand access to good training. In societies that do not permanently provide professional training services, virtual assistants supported by artificial intelligence can provide immediate directives during individual exercises. These tools use the computer vision and the enhanced reality of the correction of movements, the promotion of technologies, and the presentation of personal notes, which enables young athletes to continue learning and development even in the absence of the coach.
Although it does not indile from the value of direct guidance, it blocks the gap between training sessions, and ensures the continuity of development for a greater number of children.
Despite the promises that these developments carry, the integration of artificial intelligence requires care and justice. The data collected from young athletes must be dealt with responsibly, and to ensure a fair access to these technologies to avoid expanding the existing gaps.
Artificial intelligence achieves its best results when it is directed with human experience, and not when it is seen as an independent solution.
Artificial intelligence cannot replace the human experience that is the essence of youth sport, but is able to strengthen it in purposeful and sustainable ways. When using it carefully and a clear goal, it can help young athletes intelligently train, maintain their health, and reach opportunities that were far -reaching.
The principles of growth, communication, and discovery will remain the main driver of youth sport, and with these principles as a guide for us, artificial intelligence is an increasingly essential tool to ensure that more young people do not participate in sport only, but rather to flourish in its future.
It is worth noting that many of these developments and practical applications of artificial intelligence in sport will be the focus of the discussion in the third edition of the Bahrain International Virtual Conference of Artificial Intelligence in Sports, which is launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa today, Thursday 24 April 2025.
