Artificial Intelligence is being used to assist paddlers when training on Ivrea’s Canoe Slalom venue.
The use of AI is part of the digitalisation of the course which is continuing to undergo improvements since securing a long-term lease.
Ivrea staged the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup from September 12 to 15.
It was the latest major ICF event to be held at the Ivrea Canoe Stadium, which has a wealth of experience in hosting big Canoe Slalom competitions.
Seven cameras have been fixed along the course to video competitions and training sessions.
The Ivrea Canoe Club also reached an agreement with the University of Turin in May to introduce AI to identify athletes and support them with their training.
“There are some athletes that arrive here that don’t have a trainer or want to train alone,” said Mario Di Stazio, President of Ivrea Canoe Club.
“If the course is covered with cameras, then when the training has ended, they can go into a room and see their training session.
“The course is covered with seven fixed cameras and we have started a collaboration with the University of Turin because it works with artificial intelligence.
“When a canoeist passes through the first camera, the AI knows who it is and then gives this information to the second camera.
“When they arrive at the end, they can show the path of the athlete.”
The digitalisation of the course is the latest phase of the improvements being made by the Ivrea Canoe Club.
In 2022, the club struck a deal with the local council to continue using the site for the next 15 years after presenting its vision for the future.
Since then, renovation work has been carried out with the main storage room transformed into office space and a gym for athletes.
There are also plans to improve the boat house and install a system that is able to regulate the water flow from the Dora Baltea River.
Di Stazio believes this project is key to the club’s ambitions to stage a future edition of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
“We want better regulation of the water, so we need work done at the beginning of the course,” said Di Stazio.
“If we can get this, we hope to have one World Championships here.
“Over a number of years, we have shown that we are good at technical organisation so what is important now is that we have regulation of the water.
“This is what we want to have as soon as possible.”
Ivrea has held several ICF Canoe Slalom World Cups and staged the 2018 and 2022 editions of the ICF Junior and Under 23 World Championships.
This year’s ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup proved to be a big success with fans flocking to the venue to watch fantastic competition.
“I am absolutely delighted,” said Di Stazio.
“We had some problems with the wind on Friday, so we concentrated all the competition on Saturday and Sunday.
“It was very hard for the organisation but it was a really good show for the public which is positive for the sport as not everyone knows about kayaking.
“We had a great crowd, and we had different stations set up to help people understand the canoe and kayak.”
Related links
