Could government data unit learn from elite sport?

The government has recently set up a new data science unit in 10 Downing Street, with the hope of using tools including AI to cut costs across Whitehall departments.

But could it benefit from looking at how data is gathered and used in elite sport?

That's the suggestion from data experts and academics at the cutting edge of understanding how it can benefit sport.

Manager of Premier League side AFC Bournemouth Andoni Iraola has even credited data science with helping his side reach their record points tally in the top flight of English football.

"For me, data is vey valuable," the manager said, adding that he uses player performance data to get the maximum from his playing squad.

"I like to analyse. And not just one game. We have data on 38 games, all the passes, all the training, there are patterns that you see, there is a reason behind this.

"It's something that helps us. It cannot be probably the most important thing, for me but, definitely a big big help, yes."

But it's not just football that is using performance data.

At Salisbury races, on-course bookmaker Robert Perry explains how a horses' form, or performance data, is used to set the betting odds.

"Individual horses respond differently to conditions and different track configurations," he said.

"How well a horse runs on a straight track, how it runs on a curved track, on grass, on the all weather, up the hill etc, how it did in previous races, all that data is fed into a computer and used to calculate the odds of it winning."

Sports science and the application of performance data is also being taught and used at several universities, including Bournemouth.

Lecturer Adam Sewell processes all the data analysis for GB Basketball.

"For me it's about transferring from a sport into a political environment," he said.

"The way that we collect the data, the way we bring it all together, and that feedback aspect is really important.

"It makes sure we can provide that evidence base for whatever we're looking at.

"Whether it be government policy or team actions in a sport, to provide that insight to coaches or a minister, so you can make that coach or a minister's life easier."

The government's new data science unit hopes to use AI to speed up hospital admissions, to use data from HMRC to track uncollected taxes, even using an AI programme to redact legal documents.

Professor Andy Calloway from Bournemouth University said performance data could be used in lots of ways, not just in sport.

"The way in which we use data in sport is really well evidenced," he said.

"There's lots of really good examples from which government can learn.

"You think about what you do every day with wrist monitors, heart-rate monitors, all of that is being recorded by companies to be able to use the data, it's going to make some interesting insights into healthcare.

"We can already see that as having leverage in reducing health insurance, and those kind of aspects.

"If the government wants to use AI to replace people, we've got to trust that the policymakers are putting in safeguards to protect people and we need to make sure that we don't lose sight of the human component as the end result of all of this use of data."

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