On September 12, 2024, the “Sports-Science-Tech” conference took place at the Polish Academy of Sciences Scientific Center in Paris. The event was organized by the Polish Academy of Sciences Scientific Center in Paris and the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The conference was connected to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Prof Tymon Zieliński (from IO PAS), co-organizer of the event, emphasized during the opening remarks that a team of scientists plays a key role behind every sporting achievement.
The conference aimed to celebrate the scientific and technological aspects of sporting success, with a focus on helping athletes reach their full potential. These developments not only improve individual athletes’ performances but are also shared and used by the wider public over time.
Special guests at the conference included Oskar Kaczmarczyk (VolleyStation) and Dr. Jean Fournier (Paris Nanterre University). Mr. Kaczmarczyk delivered a keynote speech on “Polish IT solutions for the development of volleyball”, which included data collection, the role of human input, and the use of artificial intelligence in data analysis by VolleyStation. Dr. Fournier presented on the topic of sport psychology, discussing the psychological aspects of sporting achievements and the importance of cooperation with athletes’ parents.
During the first discussion, “Research for sports governance & finance,” moderated by Prof. Tymon Zieliński, Dr. Grzegorz Botwina (Polish Center for Olympic Studies and Research) emphasized the need for greater transparency in sports institutions’ funding and expenditure. Dr. Botwin also highlighted the lack of established rules and funding pathways for specific tasks in sports, which varies across different sports and influences athletes’ achievements.
The second panel, “Implementation of scientific research,” featured Dr. Szymon Łukasik (AGH University, NASK National Research Institute), Prof. Piotr Foltyński (Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences), Mateusz Delikat (QLAC), and Dr. Jean Fournier as the moderator. The speakers unanimously stressed the importance of raising awareness of the impact of sports on health and the significance of setting good examples, among others, for young people. They also provided examples of accessories and tools that can benefit both athletes and society.
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Paris partnered with the event, which was held under the patronage of the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the Polish Olympic Committee, and the Polish Paralympic Committee.
A big thank you to all the event participants for their involvement.
