In collaboration with the IOC’s commercial and broadcast partners, AI is being used by Olympic Broadcasting Services during Paris 2024 to improve internal workflows, enhance the viewer experience, enrich storytelling and better explain certain sports events.
According to Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), “This includes collaborating with Worldwide Olympic Partner Alibaba to provide a record number of multi-camera replay systems with AI-powered, high-quality reconstruction in the cloud, to create three-dimensional models and mapping of additional viewpoints across 21 sports and disciplines. This will deliver more compelling replays from more camera angles.”
Alibaba Cloud launched OBS Cloud in conjunction with OBS in September 2018, and supported the broadcast coverage of Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022.
The implementation of OBS Cloud provides an alternative to heavy investment for Media Rights-Holders and the host cities, as Olympic Games-related content can be transmitted over the cloud, effectively reducing the carbon footprint.
Also, at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, OMEGA will act as the Official Timekeeper for the 31st time. Working with OMEGA, OBS will unlock the power of AI to deliver faster, more relevant, and insightful data during the Olympic Games. For example, intelligent stroboscopic analysis across diving, athletics and artistic gymnastics will enable viewers to better understand the movements and biomechanics of the athletes. In addition, in diving, OBS and OMEGA will use AI to generate enhanced data graphics, providing a new set of data on each athlete’s performance in the air and when entering the water. AI-based motion tracking technology will also help commentators and viewers keep track of athletes’ positions during canoe sprint, marathon, race walks, cycling road (road race and time trial), cycling mountain bike, marathon swimming, rowing, sailing and triathlon.
Automatic Highlights Generation
As the Official AI Platform Partner for Paris 2024, Intel will introduce innovative AI experiences to help transform the Olympic experience for fans, organisers, athletes and viewers across the globe. Automatic Highlights Generation will be introduced, which will automatically compile key moments from 14 sports and disciplines into tailored highlights reels, based on Media Rights-Holders’ preferences, to personalise their content and further engage their digital and social media audiences.
The automatic highlights inference engine is based on AI models that have been trained with use of the Intel Geti AI software tools, specialising in AI-supported visual content processing. The models have been trained sport by sport with content that was retrieved from the vast Olympic sports video archive.
High-tech Opening Ceremony
Meanwhile, Samsung, as the official Wireless Communication and Computing Equipment Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will equip Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones on each country’s boat during the historic Opening Ceremony on the River Seine to offer a closer connection with this first-of-its-kind celebration by sharing on-board footage via an exclusive 5G network powered by Orange, the official mobile network provider of Paris 2024.
This technology integration will also be used during the Olympic sailing competition to bring fans closer to the athletes, and the action on the water, than ever before.