This year's Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina will be a technological showcase like no other. The Olympic Broadcasting Services, which is responsible for producing much of the television, radio, and digital coverage, is introducing several innovations that promise to revolutionize the way fans experience the Games.
One of the most exciting technologies on offer is drone-based first-person view (FPV) cameras. These small aircraft will transmit images from their onboard cameras in real-time, offering dynamic perspectives on the action-packed racing tracks. This means fans will be able to see exactly what it's like for athletes to compete at high speed.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will also be the first Games to feature 360-degree real-time replays. The technology uses multi-camera replay systems and stroboscopic analysis to offer multiple-angle views, freeze frames, and slow-motion images of athlete's incredible moves. This means fans will be able to analyze the competition in greater detail than ever before.
But it's not just about entertainment - the new tracking system for curling stones promises to give viewers a deeper understanding of the sport. With suspended rail cameras and ice-level views, as well as detailed stone trajectory graphics and real-time data, fans will be able to see exactly how each stone is moving in real time.
Another AI-powered innovation on offer is Olympic GPT - a new tool that uses artificial intelligence to produce content for the Olympics.com website. This includes real-time results and information on sport regulations, as well as the ability to interact with questions about ongoing competitions. According to Yiannis Exarchos, the managing director of Olympic Broadcasting Services, "Artificial-intelligence-based article summaries will give fans a quick and clear overview," highlighting key points to help users decide what to explore further.
Virtual video production is also playing a major role at this year's Games. Virtual outside broadcasting (OB) vans are being used to decentralize the process of getting images from events to fans' screens, using cloud-based infrastructure to reduce energy consumption by 50% and enable remote production for events like curling and speed skating.
Finally, an automated description platform is being tested to help teams manage the huge volume of video coming in live during their events. Artificial intelligence breaks down broadcasts into searchable clips, suggests shot descriptions and keywords, and helps users quickly find highlights - making storytelling faster and easier.
With all these technological innovations on offer, this year's Winter Olympics are set to be a truly immersive experience for fans around the world.
One of the most exciting technologies on offer is drone-based first-person view (FPV) cameras. These small aircraft will transmit images from their onboard cameras in real-time, offering dynamic perspectives on the action-packed racing tracks. This means fans will be able to see exactly what it's like for athletes to compete at high speed.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will also be the first Games to feature 360-degree real-time replays. The technology uses multi-camera replay systems and stroboscopic analysis to offer multiple-angle views, freeze frames, and slow-motion images of athlete's incredible moves. This means fans will be able to analyze the competition in greater detail than ever before.
But it's not just about entertainment - the new tracking system for curling stones promises to give viewers a deeper understanding of the sport. With suspended rail cameras and ice-level views, as well as detailed stone trajectory graphics and real-time data, fans will be able to see exactly how each stone is moving in real time.
Another AI-powered innovation on offer is Olympic GPT - a new tool that uses artificial intelligence to produce content for the Olympics.com website. This includes real-time results and information on sport regulations, as well as the ability to interact with questions about ongoing competitions. According to Yiannis Exarchos, the managing director of Olympic Broadcasting Services, "Artificial-intelligence-based article summaries will give fans a quick and clear overview," highlighting key points to help users decide what to explore further.
Virtual video production is also playing a major role at this year's Games. Virtual outside broadcasting (OB) vans are being used to decentralize the process of getting images from events to fans' screens, using cloud-based infrastructure to reduce energy consumption by 50% and enable remote production for events like curling and speed skating.
Finally, an automated description platform is being tested to help teams manage the huge volume of video coming in live during their events. Artificial intelligence breaks down broadcasts into searchable clips, suggests shot descriptions and keywords, and helps users quickly find highlights - making storytelling faster and easier.
With all these technological innovations on offer, this year's Winter Olympics are set to be a truly immersive experience for fans around the world.