Sports

IOCSS Sports, AI & Society Research Hub — Examining the intersections of athletic culture, artificial intelligence, and human values in contemporary global society.

About the Sports Research Programme

IOCSS's Sports, AI & Society research programme examines sport as a critical domain for understanding broader questions about human identity, political economy, technological change, and cross-cultural exchange. The programme takes sport seriously as a subject of comparative social science research, not merely as entertainment or economic spectacle.

Our research clusters address three interconnected questions: (1) How is artificial intelligence transforming athletic performance, officiating, and the definition of human achievement? (2) How do governments use sporting events for political signaling, including inter-Korean sports diplomacy? (3) What normative principles should govern performance enhancement, access, and fairness?

Research Cluster 1: Sport x AI

The integration of artificial intelligence into sport represents one of the most rapidly evolving frontiers. IOCSS research examines AI-driven performance analytics, automated officiating systems (goal-line technology, VAR, Hawk-Eye), and emerging physical AI systems (robotic competitions, AI-assisted coaching). A central question is: if machines can replicate or exceed human athletic achievement, what is the value of human athletic performance?

Research Cluster 2: Sport Diplomacy and Inter-Korean Exchange

Sport has historically served as a domain of diplomatic signaling on the divided Korean peninsula. IOCSS tracks inter-Korean sport diplomacy, including unified Olympic participation (2018 Pyeongchang), joint team competitions, and the impact of sanctions on North Korean international sport participation. We examine whether athletic exchanges create genuine pathways to political dialogue or serve primarily as propaganda tools.

Research Cluster 3: Ethics of Sport

The ethics of sport encompasses performance enhancement (pharmacological, technological, genetic), commercial ethics (athlete labor rights, fan loyalty commercialization), and questions of inclusion and access based on class, gender, disability, and nationality. IOCSS publishes research and policy analyses in all three clusters.

Contact: research@iocss.org for more information about the IOCSS Sports Research Programme.