Modern Tech Used to Film and Broadcast the Olympics

One of the most exciting aspects of the Olympics comes from spectators all over the world who wait for four years to be able to cheer on their respective nations and favourite athletes.

The Olympics provide a stage for the best of the best in the world’s most popular and competitive sports, creating an immense spectacle.

Naturally, a priority is ensuring that viewers from around the globe are able to watch their favourite events in high quality, and with constant innovation and progress in technology pertaining to filming, broadcasting and more, the Olympics is becoming increasingly accessible for viewers.

The Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS) is responsible for everything to do with filming and broadcasting the Olympic Games, and they’re going to be responsible for turning 3,800 hours of activity run-time into approximately 11,000 hours worth of content, including live coverage, highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and more.

So, what kind of exciting and innovative technology is being used to film and broadcast the Olympics?

 

New Tech Used for Filming and Broadcasting in the Paris Olympics

 

The world has come a long way since the Olympics were first broadcast in Germany nearly 100 years ago during the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Organisers had an astonishing three cameras on site and the games were viewed by spectators at viewing parties in specific locations.

It was only during the 1945 Olympics that the games were broadcast on BBC – the BBC is still, in fact, the official broadcaster for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Naturally, the world has come a long way since early cameras and other equipment used to film the Olympic Games.

Here are some of the most significant changes in filming and broadcasting technology that are influencing the ways in which viewers can enjoy watching the Olympics from anywhere in the world.

 

Footage Captured in Lots of Different Formats

 

In the earliest days of camera and film technology, the OBS was limited to straightforward methods of filming and taking photographs, but these days, with innovations in technology, there are plenty of different formats in which content can be captured.

This includes 8K video footage which is the highest quality available. This is used for high-definition broadcasts on television.

Now that smartphones are so prolific and have such extensive capabilities, it’s become necessary for the OBS to produce footage that is vertical, making it compatible with mobile viewing.

The most advanced format involves a 360-degree filming technique that is able to capture events from literally all angles. 

 

Drones for Aerial Coverage

 

Drones are now being used to provide aerial footage of the Olympic Games, taking over from older tech like sky cams.

Using advanced technology, they’re not only silent, but modern drones are also able to capture comprehensive field coverage of a higher quality.

Interestingly, drones are being used not only for broadcasting purposes but also as a tool for coaches and teams to capture footage of training sessions for analysis and more.

 

Doubling of Multi-Camera Replay Systems

 

The Olympic Games, as well as other sports broadcasting networks, have been using a system of multiple cameras to get different angles of the same shots for a while.

However, for the 2024 Paris Games, the OBS has doubled the number of multi-camera systems it uses, meaning that they’re able to capture more events in this way than ever before, increasing the overall quality of all Olympic broadcasting.

 

 

Cinematic Camera Lenses

 

The OBS has made a move to using cinematic camera lenses to improve sports footage. In fact, it not only improves the quality of footage, but it allows for more “artsy” shots, so to speak, allowing for enhanced depth and more.

 

Ultra-High Definition and High Dynamic Range

 

Footage is being filmed and broadcast in ultrahigh definition, which means that the quality of both colour and detail will be better in every single shot.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Smartphones

 

Olympic sailing is taking a new approach to getting onboard footage from the boats by means of the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Smartphone. The devices are being mounted on each competing boat, allowing viewers to enjoy an onboard point of view like never before.

The software being used by the Galaxy S24 has been developed in collaboration with both the OBS and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure that these devices are not only able to capture the footage effectively, but broadcast it in real-time too.

 

Hybrid Broadcasting Via Social Media

 

Viewing opportunities are becoming more widespread, with social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram joining the party and creating specifically dedicated channels showing Olympic highlights and behind-the-scenes footage of athletes.

This has created an interesting dynamic in the world of Olympic viewership, extending accessiblity beyond sports fanatics and those who are keeping close tabs on specific sports and events.

The buy-in by social media provides a way for other people to participate in a “low-stakes” kind of way that doesn’t require full matches and does provide some extra information and sometimes, explanations regarding sports and participants involved.

 

AI and Cloud Tech for Processing and Organising

 

It’s no surprise that artificial intelligence is being used to enhance the Olympic Games, with advanced technology contributing to improving equipment, devices, tracking and more.

However, one of its most valuable uses is the way in which AI can be used to improve and speed up the processing of high-quality footage, which is partly why the use of multi-camera systems has increased so dramatically. That is, AI and cloud tech is making it possible to properly process the footage in a timely manner.

In the past, camera equipment was capable of capturing exceptionally high-quality footage, but it wasn’t able to process it quickly enough to show it live. However, this is now possible.

An example of the kind of thing that AI and cloud tech has made possible is 360-degree footage that spins the viewer around the athlete being filmed.

 

High-Quality Sound

 

New audio technology allows for significantly improved sound quality. This means that events and interviews can be captured with 5.1.4 sound quality, providing viewers with great sound and an immersive experience.