[Report] Hangzhou AG Supported by Advanced Cloud Technology... Warns of 'Danger' When Crowds Gather

Published 27 Sep.2023 06:00(KST)

Match and Review Results to the Latest Bracket Information
First-Ever Cloud Broadcast in Asian Games History

Decisions overturned by video review or doping tests and information on matchups are instantly delivered to 100,000 people including athletes and staff from 45 countries, broadcasters, and volunteers. It is fast, accurate, and stable. If a crowd gathers excessively in a specific area, threatening safety, a warning window appears on the dashboard. Managers can quickly respond by checking real-time changes in weather, power outages, or fire risks.

The Hangzhou Asian Games, which opened on the 23rd, have been running smoothly with the support of Alibaba Cloud, a major Chinese big tech company and the official IT general contractor. Cutting-edge technology has supported everything from global broadcasting to event operations and accident prevention.

Before the Hangzhou Asian Games began, an Alibaba Cloud employee was monitoring related systems through a dashboard. (Photo by Alibaba Cloud)

The core systems of the Asian Games consist of the Game Management System (GMS), Result Distribution System (RDS), and Game Support System (GSS). These systems provide 24-hour support to 56 venues, the IT management center, the main media center, and the Hangzhou Asian Games Athletes' Village. Broadening the scope, they serve over 100,000 registered users including athletes, broadcasters, journalists, staff, and volunteers from 45 countries worldwide.

After each event concludes, the Result Distribution System receives data from the venue’s time measurement and evaluation systems. This data is integrated into a central system and distributed in the form of text, video, and photos through various Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) such as result displays and news feeds.

By utilizing native technology on Alibaba Cloud’s container services, agile and scalable event operations are possible without the need for physical data centers that require large dedicated spaces and maintenance facilities. After the event ends, cloud resources are released, making the operation environmentally friendly.

On the 26th, at the 'Alibaba Cloud Summit' held in Hangzhou, China, Selina Yuan, Chairwoman of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group Global Business Division, is explaining technological innovation. (Photo by Alibaba)

Selina Yuan, Chairwoman of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group’s Global Business Division, said at a press conference held at the Hangzhou campus on the 26th, "Alibaba Cloud has ample experience supporting large-scale global sports events. Through enhanced system support, we will effectively collaborate with event stakeholders and provide a more immersive experience to viewers and fans worldwide through advanced broadcasting technology."

Chairwoman Yuan emphasized the significance of cloud technology support, stating, "With cloud technology that offers inclusiveness, scalability, and security, this will be a record-setting opportunity to lead the digital transformation of large-scale events and demonstrate our contribution to sports and entertainment worldwide."

This event is expected to be the first in Asian Games history where public cloud infrastructure is used for Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHB) to receive live video feeds. During the Games, Alibaba Cloud will transmit over 5,000 hours of live video through up to 68 high-definition (HD) and ultra-high-definition (UHD) feeds.

An employee is walking down the stairs at the Alibaba Cloud Campus Valley located in Hangzhou, China. (Photo by Kim Hyunjung)

Before cloud broadcasting, broadcasters relied on costly dedicated international optical communication circuits and invested significant time installing equipment to transmit live video from the opposite side of the globe to their home countries. However, by leveraging cloud infrastructure and network acceleration services, cost and time efficiency have been greatly improved. Regarding the extent of improvement, Chairwoman Yuan said, "It can only be estimated after the Asian Games conclude," but introduced that "at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, cloud technology reduced labor costs by about 30% compared to previous Olympics."

Cloud technology also contributes to enhancing overall safety during the event. Alibaba Cloud’s solutions provide real-time analysis of traffic and crowd management, displaying a 'warning' on the dashboard if public places become too crowded. Depending on the situation, information on crowd density, weather, power outages, and fire risks is also delivered to the organizers to enable appropriate responses.