TEAM EUROPE

Helping everyone to be able to understand all sports

From left to right: Bob van der Horst, Xela Dafauce Bouzó,
and Simon van de Fliert (from The University of Hull^*)
*As of when the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project started

The team of Bob van der Horst, Xela Dafauce Bouzó and Simon van de Fliert was chosen as the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS representing Europe. All in Team Europe have different backgrounds: Bob and Simon are from the Netherlands, and Xela is from Spain. Moreover, Simon studies computer science, Xela, sports and health science, and Bob, humanities at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.

The idea came up when the three were watching judo matches. Xela is very familiar with judo, while Bob and Simon were not interested in it because they did not know the rules. Once Xela showed them the rules while watching the matches through the night, however, the two became big judo fans.

Xela reveals her passion:

“All of us are highly motivated and passionate; keen to create something new, evolve ourselves, and learn and study. In addition, each of us is unique, so we can come up with various unique ideas and talk about them to inspire each other. Although I have been trying various sports, many of my friends did not want to know more about them. It always made me think that they are missing the opportunity to know more and have fun. Then I heard about the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project and felt that is the ideal program for me without a doubt. This was the chance to realize what I wanted but was unable to do, together with my best teammates.”

Xela reveals her passion:

“All of us are highly motivated and passionate; keen to create something new, evolve ourselves, and learn and study. In addition, each of us is unique, so we can come up with various unique ideas and talk about them to inspire each other. Although I have been trying various sports, many of my friends did not want to know more about them. It always made me think that they are missing the opportunity to know more and have fun. Then I heard about the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project and felt that is the ideal program for me without a doubt. This was the chance to realize what I wanted but was unable to do, together with my best teammates.”

Idea

“REFEREE TRANSLATOR”

Barrier

A lack of understanding of competitive sports by home viewers and live spectators

Target

Unexperienced home viewers or live spectators with access to a smartphone , laptop or tablet device

Solution

App that use motion sensor technology to translate the action of the referee in real time

Presentation Movie

Prototype

With technological support from Panasonic, the European team created a prototype for their idea. Motion sensors worn by referees capture their movements during the match, and the application automatically translates the referees’ gestures. In addition, through a game function in which a match is simulated and the user becomes the referee, the application also helps people enjoy understanding sports events.

Prototype

With technological support from Panasonic, the European team created a prototype for their idea. Motion sensors worn by referees capture their movements during the match, and the application automatically translates the referees’ gestures. In addition, through a game function in which a match is simulated and the user becomes the referee, the application also helps people enjoy understanding sports events.

From Advisors

At the Final Presentation livestreamed worldwide, the team honed their idea by discussing with advisors, who had various perspectives.

Marlène Masure
Chief Commercial Officer, The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

It’s a brilliant idea that helps you better experience sports. I think there is an enormous need for Paralympic sports. Many people struggle to understand the Paralympics. If people understand the rules, they’ll get more interested in the Games for sure. I think I might have two questions. One is: How will you make this experience accessible to people who are visually impaired? The other one would be: How would you like to produce these motion sensors?

In the same way this app can display the meaning of a gesture by a referee in text form, this information can also be displayed in audio form so everyone can understand what is being said. Regarding your second question, we will definitely try to integrate these motion sensors as much as we can in the referees’ uniform so it’s not intrusive during the game and it’s also comfortable for them. It can go anywhere, so if it really works, it can even be implemented by the athletes themselves. If it’s a sport like gymnastics, for example, in which there is no referee giving signals, the motion sensors could be applied to the athlete, and they could recognize a specific movement to give information like, “Oh, this is the kind of jump it is and it has this difficulty level.”

Xela Dafauce Bouzó
SPORTS CHANGE MAKER from Europe

In the same way this app can display the meaning of a gesture by a referee in text form, this information can also be displayed in audio form so everyone can understand what is being said. Regarding your second question, we will definitely try to integrate these motion sensors as much as we can in the referees’ uniform so it’s not intrusive during the game and it’s also comfortable for them. It can go anywhere, so if it really works, it can even be implemented by the athletes themselves. If it’s a sport like gymnastics, for example, in which there is no referee giving signals, the motion sensors could be applied to the athlete, and they could recognize a specific movement to give information like, “Oh, this is the kind of jump it is and it has this difficulty level.”

Yoshihiro Morii
Executive Officer, Panasonic

Your team offers capabilities that are highly diversified. This is a very important point for us. One question: If viewers use this application from different angles, will it work? And the second question is about real-time viewing for those who utilize this application just for enjoyment. After finishing the game, I guess that viewers will enjoy and keep on having this kind of excitement. So, how do you think about the time after the game is finished?

I’ll take the first question. I think the solution for that would be for us to keep using the front camera as much as we can. Live viewers get to see the sport unfold sort of in a more frontal view if they have the application on their smartphone or smart device next to them; or on the big screen, as we already discussed. And if you’re at home, you already have two different screens as well, and you can sort of switch between them, having one of them as sort of the live contest and the video choices of the broadcasters. Your own smart device will have our application with sort of one constant video form, which is the most useful one for us to use.

Bob van der Horst
SPORTS CHANGE MAKER from Europe

I’ll take the first question. I think the solution for that would be for us to keep using the front camera as much as we can. Live viewers get to see the sport unfold sort of in a more frontal view if they have the application on their smartphone or smart device next to them; or on the big screen, as we already discussed. And if you’re at home, you already have two different screens as well, and you can sort of switch between them, having one of them as sort of the live contest and the video choices of the broadcasters. Your own smart device will have our application with sort of one constant video form, which is the most useful one for us to use.

I’ll take the second question. A recording could be set in stone and be put in the application so the viewers can re-watch the decisions made by the referee. And we can also expand this to combine viewer battles, essentially to have viewers compete amongst each other, maybe for prizes. Let’s say, they can have local restaurants work in collaboration with Panasonic and the Olympic Games to provide additional prizes and engagement to the viewers. We can add anything else to the application to expand on the enjoyment factor.

Simon van de Fliert
SPORTS CHANGE MAKER from Europe

I’ll take the second question. A recording could be set in stone and be put in the application so the viewers can re-watch the decisions made by the referee. And we can also expand this to combine viewer battles, essentially to have viewers compete amongst each other, maybe for prizes. Let’s say, they can have local restaurants work in collaboration with Panasonic and the Olympic Games to provide additional prizes and engagement to the viewers. We can add anything else to the application to expand on the enjoyment factor.

Watch our archived video to see all discussions＞

Epilogue

When I first heard of this program, I believed that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Bob, Simon and I talked about it all night, and we ended up with this great idea.

We won the European preliminaries in Paris and focused on developing the idea for the Final Presentation. Everything seemed to be fine. However, in the wake of COVID-19, the university ordered international students to return home. It was so hard, and we were pulling our hair out about how we should continue. But we never wanted to compromise on quality. We never wanted to give up. That’s why we held discussions online almost every day after returning to our countries.

What I learned in the meantime is that we have potential. The SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project gave me confidence in myself, allowed me to pursue my dream, and pushed me forward. If you ever think about joining this program, I wholly recommend it. You have to work really hard, but something wonderful will come along and you will feel rewarded. You can also meet many people from all over the world and listen to those who are as highly motivated as you. SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS is the best opportunity for you to grow.

I keep working what I want because it's possible,
it's there.

Xela Dafauce Bouzó, SPORTS CHANGE MAKER representing Europe

The students have just begun taking on new challenges.
There will be many difficulties and hardships for those entering the workforce.
Hoping that this SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project will provide clues as to how they will overcome the barriers that may await them, we shall further pursue our activities.

Panasonic is the Official Worldwide Olympic & Paralympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category.
Should any these projects be implemented and involve products/services outside Panasonic product category, collaboration with other TOPs/OCOGs/NOCs partners is required depending on their respective product categories.

Panasonic is the Official Worldwide Olympic & Paralympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category. Should any these projects be implemented and involve products/services outside Panasonic product category, collaboration with other TOPs/OCOGs/NOCs partners is required depending on their respective product categories.