(Yicai) June 10 -- The Suzhou Artificial Intelligence Industry Association said it solicits innovative AI-powered products and solutions to enhance the training and competitive performance of the city's amateur soccer team.

The association targets AI tools used for soccer training, health management, and competition tactics, mainly smart training assistance, athlete health monitoring, and tactical optimization, it announced on WeChat yesterday. The innovative products and solutions must be ready for practical implementation and deployable before the end of this year's Jiangsu Football City League season, it added.

Viral grassroots tournament Jiangsu Football City League, nicknamed the "Jiangsu Super League" by netizens, has ignited local enthusiasm for community football. Thirteen prefecture-level cities across Jiangsu province, including Nanjing and Suzhou, have formed teams mainly of students and amateur athletes to play 85 matches between May 10 and Nov. 2, likely generating over CNY300 million (USD41.8 million) in economic value.

Recent AI and computer vision breakthroughs have enabled wider sports motion recognition systems adoption in athlete training and competitions. In March last year, Google DeepMind unveiled the TacticAI assistant that can provide experts with tactical insights, particularly on corner kicks, in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

In February, Chinese personal computer giant Lenovo and the Chinese Professional Football League teamed up on AI terminals and infrastructure, with plans to co-develop full-stack AI command centers and smart stadiums.

AI motion recognition systems are typically based on deep learning and image processing, using cameras, infrared sensors, or wearables to collect movement data and leveraging algorithmic models to analyze skeletal structures, joint angles, and motion trajectories to evaluate movement quality, a computer vision application developer told Yicai. Coaches can use AI systems to compare athletes' data and refine tactics, the person added.

AI technology enables real-time collection and analysis of extensive data, including biomechanical parameters, training intensity, fatigue levels, and injury history, to accurately predict injury risks, a developer of an athlete health management app said to Yicai.

According to a recent report by China's Guotai Haitong Securities, "AI + sports" deployments are expanding across multiple subsectors, with the sports sector presenting emerging investment opportunities supported by favorable policies, strong consumer potential, and advancing AI tech.

Editor: Martin Kadiev