During the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, viewers can expect an innovative television experience that surpasses anything seen at past Olympic events. As technology evolves, the broadcast of these Games will incorporate a range of cutting-edge tools designed to enhance the experience for both athletes and fans alike.
Yiannis Exarchos, managing director of Olympic Broadcasting Services, emphasized that unprecedented technologies will be introduced for the event. Key advancements include the use of first-person view drones and real-time, 360-degree replays. The latter, developed in collaboration with Alibaba, will provide dynamic, multi-angle views, freeze frames, and slow-motion footage that captures athletes’ performances in breathtaking detail.
New features include a tracking system for curling stones, which allows viewers to see the path, speed, and rotation of each stone as the game progresses. This is augmented by rail cameras and graphics, providing a deeper understanding of the sport.
One of the standout innovations is Olympic GPT, an artificial intelligence tool developed to interact with audiences. It will deliver real-time results, vital information about sports regulations, and AI-generated article summaries, making the content on Olympics.com more accessible and user-friendly, especially on mobile devices.
The production of video content will transition to a cloud-based system, minimizing the carbon footprint significantly. This virtual outside broadcasting approach is expected to lower energy use by around 50%, while also allowing for remote coverage of events. A recent test at the Dakar Rally demonstrated the efficiency of this technology, achieving substantial reductions in both space and energy consumption.
Additionally, an automated description platform will enhance the way content is managed, simplifying the process of tagging and categorizing video highlights, making storytelling around the events faster and more engaging.
As the Games approach, these innovations promise to deliver a truly immersive experience, changing the way the world interacts with the Olympic spirit.
For more information visit: 2026 Winter Olympics
