The International Gymnastics Federation to Implement Fujitsu's Judging Support System

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and Fujitsu Limited today announced their decision to practically implement a judging support system which they have been developing, with the aim of achieving real time judging support that is fair and accurate. The judging support system will now be tested at a forthcoming World Cup event and targeted for deployment at the 2019 World Championships held by FIG, a global organization that governs gymnastics disciplines, including artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.

In addition, FIG and Fujitsu have signed a contract for a new partnership program to promote the deployment of the judging support system to be used by its Continental Unions and Member Federations for training and education purposes and for use at their competitions.

FIG oversees national gymnastics organizations, while setting gymnastics rules and hosting international competitions. Fujitsu is a leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services to overcome challenges in the society. The two parties started collaboration in 2017, and have worked together with the aim of implementing a judging support system.

Based on this collaboration, in 2017, for the first time in an international competition, competition data necessary for the further development of the judging support system was captured at the 47th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Montreal, Canada. In 2018, technical verification of the judging support system for gymnastics was made at the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Future Plans

The judging support system is planned to be deployed at the 49th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2019, scheduled to be held in Stuttgart, Germany. Accordingly, it will support scoring for certain competitions, as FIG and Fujitsu aim to expand the application of the technology. Both parties will continue to develop the technology, aiming to automate judges' scores from 2020.

Overview of the Judging Support System

Supplementing the visual observations of judges, the system developed by Fujitsu and Fujitsu Laboratories will assist judges in coming to accurate determination of elements by capturing the gymnasts' movements with 3D laser sensors and analyzing as numerical data.

About the Partnership Program

FIG and Fujitsu have agreed to a new partnership program to promote the deployment of the judging support system at national gymnastics championships held in countries around the world. They will also work together to advance the use of ICT in gymnastics beyond judging support, for athlete training and for entertainment applications.

Features

1) Global deployment of the judging support system

• Start use in 2019 at competitions held by FIG, promote system implementation in leading countries by 2024, and for 2028, promote expansion to as many as possible of FIG's 146 member countries.

2) Use of ICT to strengthen athletic capabilities

• Provide training solutions that utilize athletes' performance data as well as the technologies and skills database obtained by the judging support system
• Develop and implement E-learning for judges to improve their skills and spread the knowledge of scoring rules

3) Improvement of entertainment applications and expansion of fan-base

• Offer TV and online broadcasting contents, while providing display boards and smartphone systems for visitors at competitions, to make gymnastics more entertaining
• Maintenance of database, early implementation of digital marketing to expand the fan-base of gymnastics sports and improve profitability
• Establishment of an annual award by Fujitsu to be presented at one of FIG's World Championships, contributing to raising the popularity of gymnastics sports

Related Websites

Fujitsu's Activities for Gymnastics (video about the judging support system for gymnastics)