The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are anticipated to be a groundbreaking event, as indicated by this year's motto, ‘Games Wide Open’. France is committed to making the 2024 Summer Olympics the most technologically advanced and fan-centric event in Olympic history.
With an estimated 300,000 in-person attendees and over 1 billion virtual viewers, France is harnessing various technologies, including AI and 5G, to create personalised fan experiences that inspire competition and promote inclusivity and diversity.
In this post, we’ll look at some of those technologies in detail, with insights on how they could impact the Games.
In-person fan experiences
The Summer Olympics will start with a historic opening ceremony featuring a parade of countries and their athletes down the River Seine. This free event will allow around 220,000 spectators to enjoy the grandeur and spectacle of the Games up close. The inclusive approach to the opening ceremony aims to bring the spirit of the Olympics directly to the people, highlighting the unity and cultural richness of the participating nations.
The community-focused celebration of the Olympic spirit will continue at Champion Park, situated at the base of the Eiffel Tower. Fans can celebrate with the day's medal-winning athletes, participate in interactive exhibits, enjoy live performances and join in sports demonstrations, creating unique experiences. Alongside honouring all medalling athletes at Champion Park, France has established over 200 Club 2024 zones nationwide, allowing people to immerse themselves in the excitement of the Games and show their support for Team France.
Partnering with Orange, France has broadened 5G technology access to cater to large crowds' digital needs and guarantee attendees' high-quality experiences. The 2024 Olympics will be the first to use digital ticketing exclusively. Additionally, spectators can effortlessly livestream and share photos and videos, allowing them to share the moment with family and friends. This enhancement also increases the accessibility of the games, enabling the use of adaptive aids such as haptic tablets for those who are visually impaired.
Digital fan engagement
France has invested significantly in technology to improve and drive digital fan engagement for fans unable to attend the events in person. This includes investments in 5G, AI and cinematic cameras to provide advanced streaming and broadcasting capabilities. In addition to delivering next-generation broadcast experiences, the 2024 Olympics also offers fans a variety of innovative mobile applications and games.
Revolutionary 5G technology: The 2024 Olympics, in partnership with Orange, will feature a private 5G network for broadcasters. This network will enhance live streaming and provide real-time updates to ensure fans stay connected and engaged. This improved connectivity promises to bring the action closer to fans, regardless of their physical location. The private 5G network will be relied upon heavily during the opening ceremony; cameras stationed on the parade boats will transmit high-quality live video over the private mobile network.
Approximately two-thirds of sports fans in the United States are expected to tune in to the Paris 2024 Olympics on live TV. NBC has already achieved a record $1.2 billion in advertising sales, highlighting the significant interest and investment in the event. Innovations aimed at delivering a cinematic experience include using cinematic lenses designed to capture high-quality, immersive footage of film events. Combined with real-time data to provide visually stunning and informative broadcasts, these lenses immerse viewers in action like never before.
AI plays a crucial role in creating immersive experiences for viewers by generating dynamic graphics, data points, and interactive visualisations; these captivate the audience and make the events more engaging. Real-time data, such as athlete performance metrics and weather conditions, is instrumental in creating these insightful visualisations. This keeps fans engaged and provides them with a deeper understanding of the events, making them feel more informed and connected to the action.
NBC's streaming platform, Peacock, is enhancing the streaming experience by introducing the capability to view up to four events simultaneously (multiview screen view) and enhanced personalised content discovery features. Viewers will also receive daily streaming updates that utilise an AI-generated voice from famed sports broadcaster Al Michaels.
Innovative mobile apps and games: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched an innovative mobile game ahead of the Games. This game features 12 different sports and allows users to play, train their own digital athletes and build their Olympic village. It enables global competition and engagement, providing fans a unique interactive experience that inspires friendly competition between nations.
The official mobile application of the Olympics offers fans a comprehensive and interactive experience beyond just medal count updates. This app features fan voting, allowing users to participate actively in polls and sports trivia. This engages fans' knowledge and competitive spirit, making them feel excited and involved. The app also provides fun and informative content about the events and athletes.
Critical sports updates ensure that fans are always informed about key moments, results and breaking news. Additionally, the app includes a screen-sharing capability via Bluetooth, allowing individuals to watch the action on any smart device. These features collectively enhance overall engagement, making the Olympics more interactive and enjoyable for fans worldwide.
The IOC and Kinomap have teamed up to offer connected sports challenges on the Paris 2024 courses. These challenges will allow fans to complete the 2024 Olympic biking, running, and rowing routes, bridging the gap between spectating and active participation. Participants from home can compare their times with those of world-class Olympic athletes and see how they stack up against others worldwide. This initiative aims to make fans feel like an integral part of the Games, even if they are not physically present.
Let the Games begin
With the motto ‘Games Wide Open’, this year’s Summer Olympics aim to set new technological advancement and fan engagement standards. France's commitment to inclusivity and diversity is evident through its innovative in-person experiences, such as the historic River Seine opening ceremony and the vibrant Champion Park events.
The extensive use of AI and 5G technology ensures personalised and interactive experiences for the 300,000 attendees; for the over 1 billion virtual viewers, advanced streaming, cinematic broadcasting and interactive mobile applications bridge the gap between spectatorship and active participation. This combination of cutting-edge technology and community-focused events promises to make the Paris 2024 Olympics a memorable and engaging spectacle for a global audience.
We’ll be tuning in this week to see firsthand how these technological advancements impact this year’s edition of the Games – and are here to support your brand with sports technology expertise.
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