From the left : Kostas Georgiadis, Hilla Davidov, Carlos Villegas, Zdeněk Škoda, Reele Remmelkoor, Muharam Mchume, behind Hilla, Ivan Coste-Manière

IPCC Board member Dr. Hilla Davidov gave a lecture on AI at the International Olympic Academy

Dr. Hilla Davidov represented the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee as an invited lecturer at the 18th International Session for National Olympic Academies (NOAs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in Olympia, Greece from 10 to 15 May 2025. She was accompanied by her colleagues, members of the IPCC: Reele Remmelkoor, Kostas Georgiadis, Ivan Coste-Manière, Muharam Mchume, Zdeněk Škoda and Carlos Villegas (candidate to become our member).

In her keynote lecture, “AI: Opportunities and Challenges for Olympic Education – Bridging Tradition with Innovation”, she addressed the transformative role of artificial intelligence in Olympic education. Emphasizing that while AI offers significant opportunities-such as personalizing learning, making Olympic education more accessible and inclusive, and creating immersive, interactive experiences-it must be implemented thoughtfully to preserve the humanistic values which are at the core of Olympism. The presentation highlighted how AI can support educators by adapting content to individual learners, enabling virtual and gamified experiences that bring Olympic values to life, and breaking down barriers through real-time translation and digital tools. She also envisioned AI-powered museums and interactive documentaries that make Olympic history and ethics more engaging for young audiences.

However, caution was raised regarding potential pitfalls, including the risk of losing essential human interaction, ethical concerns such as data privacy and algorithmic bias, and the danger of deepening inequalities if AI-driven education becomes commercialized or inaccessible. The lecture stressed that AI should serve as a tool to empower educators, not replace them, and that its integration must always align with the ethical foundations of Olympism-fairness, inclusion, and respect.

A key point emphasized was the current gap in the Olympic AI Agenda concerning education. The call was made for greater emphasis on integrating Olympic education into the broader AI strategy of the Olympic Movement, warning that neglecting this aspect risks undermining the very foundation of Olympism. Announced initiatives by the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee include the development of workshops to help educators responsibly integrate AI into values-based Olympic education, as well as using AI to make Coubertin’s writings more accessible and relevant across cultures.

At the conclusion of the presentation, all 150 participants from nearly 100 countries were invited to follow the Committee’s LinkedIn page and website, where ongoing activities, updates, and professional resources are regularly shared. This participation underscored the Committee’s commitment to international collaboration, innovation, and the enduring relevance of Coubertin’s vision in the digital age.