World Squash has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of top-tier International Olympic Committee sponsor Alibaba Group, to further develop the sport and champion environmentally responsible sports practices.
WSF is set to harness Hangzhou-based Alibaba Cloud’s cloud and AI technologies to augment content, management and commercialisation. Moreover, WSF aims to innovate squash-themed e-sports by integrating cloud-based immersive interactions such as virtual reality.
WSF and Alibaba Cloud will also embark on sustainability initiatives designed to minimize the sport’s carbon footprint.
WSF CEO William Louis-Marie said: “Our partnership with Alibaba Cloud embodies our commitment to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of squash. A key goal of WSF is to embrace technological innovation for the benefit of both amateur and professional athletes.”
“Leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s digital prowess, we believe we can promote squash as it makes its debut as an official Olympic sport at the LA28 Olympic Games. We look forward to a robust and enduring partnership that will elevate squash to new heights around the world.
“Alibaba Cloud is a global leader in the digital sector and we have every faith that its expertise across a broad range of industries will help squash continue its development in the lead up to, and after, its Olympic debut.”
Selina Yuan, President of International Business at Alibaba Cloud, said: “We are privileged to contribute our leading technology to the digital evolution of the squash community, advancing both the efficiency and the ecological footprint of the sport. Our partnership with the World Squash Federation reinforces our continuous commitment to sport innovation and our pledge to sustainability.”