The 2024 Olympics - A Tech Extravaganza
The Olympics traditionally has been a showcase of athletic talents. However, the past few times, it has also become a festival for the largest and greatest technological innovations together with each hosting country's heritage and culture to lay the foundation on each occasion.
This time, AI has done tremendous work to keep athletes safe online mindblowing spectator experiences and so much more. Paris Olympics 2024 has successfully showcased how tech is transforming sports and the world.
Let's dissect everything we saw and the technology behind them!
Keeping Athletes Safe with AI
Keeping athletes safe has been one of the bigger priorities this year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) rolled out an intuitive AI-based system designed to help athletes against online abuse. This system pretty much catches onto any abusive message or content regarding these athletes and proceeds to flag them for removal or moderation to maintain a safer online space.
With the partnership of IOC and Intel, they have also introduced another platform called Athelete365 which is a very useful chatbot to keep athletes informed of common questions relating to social media, anti-doping guidelines, and any important topic related to events.
Planning Smarter with Digital Twins
Behind the scenes, AI was making everything run smoothly. Planners used digital twinning technology, which creates virtual replicas of the venues. This cool innovation, developed with Intel, allowed organizers to plan power needs, camera placements, and ensure accessibility without having to visit the sites.
2024 has also been a year to demonstrate energy use and sustainability. Games were designed and orchestrated in a way to help retain this efficient and sustainable energy use backed up with data collected since 2020 on energy use. In addition, Olympic Games tech partner, Atos, led a force of 15 tech companies and over 2000 experts to ensure everything about the Olympics stays perfect when it comes to technology.
Next-Level Broadcasting and Fan Engagement
Broadcasting at the 2024 Olympics reached new heights thanks to AI. Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), partnering with Alibaba, used AI to streamline internal processes, enhance viewer experiences, and enrich storytelling. Multi-camera replay systems with AI-powered cloud technology created 3D models and additional viewpoints across 21 sports, delivering more dynamic and engaging replays.
OBS Cloud, launched in 2018 with Alibaba Cloud, continued to offer an efficient broadcasting solution, reducing the need for heavy investments by Media Rights-Holders and host cities. By transmitting content over the cloud, this tech also helped lower the event's carbon footprint.
As the Official Timekeeper, OMEGA teamed up with OBS to harness AI’s power, delivering real-time, insightful data. AI-powered stroboscopic analysis in sports like diving, athletics, and gymnastics gave viewers a deeper understanding of athletes’ movements. Additionally, motion-tracking technology helped commentators and fans keep track of athletes' positions in various events, making the viewing experience even more exciting.
AI-Driven Highlights and a Spectacular Opening Ceremony
Intel, the Official AI Platform Partner for Paris 2024, introduced some intriguing AI features to enhance the Olympic experience. One standout was Automatic Highlights Generation, which created personalized highlight reels from 14 sports. This feature helped media outlets engage their digital and social media audiences more effectively.
These AI models were trained using Intel Geti AI tools, leveraging a vast archive of Olympic sports videos to deliver precise and engaging content.
The Opening Ceremony was a tech marvel, with Samsung providing Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones to each country’s boat. These devices captured and shared onboard footage via an exclusive 5G network powered by Orange, giving fans an up-close view of the first-of-its-kind celebration on the River Seine.
Conclusion: The Future of Sports is Here
The 2024 Olympics showed us how technology can transform the world of sports. From AI protecting athletes online to smart planning with digital twins and immersive broadcasting, these games highlighted how tech can enhance every aspect of the Olympic experience.
The 2024 Olympics is more than athletic achievements. We're in an age where everything is supported with tremendous technological efforts and the Olympics is evidence of that. This incredible showcase of sports infused with technology has made the event more engaging for athletes, fans, and organizers alike.