Artificial intelligence-assisted judging could be introduced at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with World Gymnastics in advanced discussions over the use of Fujitsu’s Judging Support System (JSS).
World Gymnastics president Morinari Watanabe told The Athletic that he hopes the technology can be incorporated into the Los Angeles Games, with discussions already underway.
JSS is being used this week at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, where apparatus supervisors can access AI-assisted analysis across all 10 men’s and women’s events for the first time. Human judges, however, remain responsible for official scoring decisions.
The system uses cameras and motion analysis to assess gymnastics routines, generating data designed to improve the consistency and transparency of judging.
Technology analyses routines within seconds
World Gymnastics and Fujitsu have been developing JSS since 2017. The system uses four cameras for each apparatus and eight cameras for floor exercise to capture routines from multiple angles and create three-dimensional models of gymnasts’ movements.
During a demonstration in Rotterdam, Fujitsu representatives used JSS to analyse American gymnast Skye Blakely’s routine. The system produced joint measurements and scoring-related information within approximately 10 to 15 seconds after the routine ended.
Watanabe said greater use of technology could help reduce the scoring controversies that have affected previous Olympic competitions.
He cited the prolonged dispute surrounding the women’s floor exercise bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, as well as an acknowledged judging error in the men’s all-around final at Athens 2004.
According to Watanabe, more consistent computer-assisted analysis could help prevent similar controversies while making scoring decisions easier for spectators to understand.
Human judges remain responsible for scores
Despite the increasing role of AI-assisted analysis, World Gymnastics currently considers JSS a support tool rather than an independent judging system. Official scores continue to be determined by human judges.
Watanabe said his long-term ambition is for AI to eventually determine gymnastics scores, with human officials remaining responsible for overseeing exceptional situations.
The World Gymnastics president, who is also an International Olympic Committee member and sits on the LA28 Coordination Commission, said he had previously attempted to introduce the technology at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
The timing and scoring landscape is also relevant to the discussions. The IOC has an existing agreement with Omega, the official Olympic timekeeper, covering timing, scoring and results systems through 2032.
World Gymnastics’ discussions with the IOC over potential use of JSS at Los Angeles 2028 are ongoing.