The World Squash Federation (WSF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba Cloud for cloud and AI technologies.
WSF is set to use Alibaba's cloud computing to augment content, management and commercialization, and will also use the cloud provider's platform to develop a squash e-sports with virtual reality.
As part of the partnership, the WSF hopes to be able to take advantage of sustainability initiatives that will reduce the sport's carbon footprint.
WSF CEO William Louis-Marie said: “Our partnership with Alibaba Cloud embodies our commitment to enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of squash. A key goal of WSF is to embrace technological innovation for the benefit of both amateur and professional athletes.”
Alibaba Cloud is a sponsor of the International Olympic Committee, and this agreement coincides with Squash making its debut as an official sport at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Louis-Marie added: "Alibaba Cloud is a global leader in the digital sector and we have every faith that its expertise across a broad range of industries will help Squash continue its development in the lead-up to, and after, its Olympic debut.”
Selina Yuan, president of International Business at Alibaba Cloud, said, “We are privileged to contribute our leading technology to the digital evolution of the squash community, advancing both the efficiency and the ecological footprint of the sport. Our partnership with the World Squash Federation reinforces our continuous commitment to sport innovation and our pledge to sustainability.”
The WSF launched a D2C platform in 2022, WorldSquash.TV, which streams all of the events managed by the WSF, as well as hosting programs and archives.
Alibaba recently announced price cuts to its cloud computing services for both local and international customers as part of an effort to increase its competitive advantage.
The cuts followed a recent and unexpected move by Alibaba to call off the spin-out of its cloud unit (aka Aliyun). Plans for the move were first shared in May 2023, and in September the company was considering a $3bn private funding raise for the plan.
Sports team and stadium owner OL Groupe migrated to HPE GreenLake in February 2023, deploying a data center on-site at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium.
