Alibaba lends IOC tech expertise with new partnership

World Today

With a new partnership, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is using its technological expertise to help upgrade the Olympics for the digital age.

CGTN’s Hu Nan has details.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma and International Olympic Committee chair Thomas Bach announced a new partnership on Friday, unveiling a grand vision for their two organizations. The Chinese e-commerce giant is now part of a prestigious group of more than dozen corporations including Visa, Coca Cola, and Samsung, which have all been top sponsors of the Games.

“Alibaba will make Olympic Games more efficient with big data analyzing, and bring it closer to younger generation who are more familiar with internet and new media,” Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma said.

Alibaba will provide online computing services and data analytics for the Olympics, while also developing an online video channel for viewers in China. In return, Alibaba will be a major marketplace for official Olympic merchandise.

“Alibaba and IOC are both targeting a happier and healthier life for people,” according to IOC President Thomas Bach. “We do it through sports, and Alibaba through technology. Our cooperation will make dreams come true.”

The deal between Alibaba and the IOC is the biggest in the committee’s history. The agreement will help further push the Olympic Games into the digital era, while also helping the Chinese e-commerce company gain further international exposure.