Japanese 
Contact 
Keita Watanabe
Director, Sports Analytics Lab, Toin University of Yokohama
An Athlete Support Approach Utilizing ICT and Data
Top level athletes are supported by highly expert staff, and the rapid advances in ICT over recent years have also had a major impact in the world of sport. Diverse initiatives have been implemented in many sports to look at how information can be utilized to win. This session will provide information on why sports analysts are now in demand in the world of sport, an example of a sports information strategy utilizing IT, and the prospects for the future.
Biography
Keita Watanabe started as a sports analyst through independent study while at university with the aspiration of using IT for sport. While still at university, he was selected as the analyst for Japan’s national women’s volleyball team and has been responsible for information strategy for over 10 years supporting the athletes as a Japanese team official at three Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
In 2010, he devised and introduced the world’s first-ever information analysis system utilizing an iPad, which contributed to the team winning a medal at a world championship for the first time in 32 years and a bronze medal for the first time in 28 years at the 2012 London Olympics. Besides continuing to support the Japanese national team as team director, he established the Japan Sports Analyst Association in 2014 with the aim of strengthening collaboration of sports analysts across sports and enhancing their value and acts as the representative director of the association. He has also continued to focus on training, including studying overseas sports analyst training systems, developing the first university sports analyst training program, and holding training camps for sports analysts.
His main publications include Naze Zennihon Joshi Bare wa Sekai to Gokaku ni Tatakaerunoka (Why is Japan’s Women’s Volleyball Team a Match for the World?) (Toho Publishing, 2012) and Hito wa Deeta dewa Ugokanai—Kokoro wo Ugokasu Purezen Ryoku (Data is Uninspiring—Presentation Skills that Inspire) (Shinchosha, 2014).
Representative Director, Japan Sports Analyst Association; Director, Sports Analytics Lab, Toin University of Yokohama; Performance Strategy Lead and Tokyo Olympics Strategy Project Leader, Japan Volleyball Association; Team Director, Japan National Women’s Volleyball Team; Director, Athlete Commission. Member; Intelligence and Scientific Support Department, Intelligence, Medicine and Science Commission, Sports Committee, Japanese Olympic Committee JOC; Member, Sports Advisory Committee, Sports Expo.