Beijing 2022 set to be the most immersive Olympic Winter Games yet
07 Feb 2022 – The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 are set to be the most immersive yet, thanks to innovative broadcast technologies, record-breaking hours of coverage and a host of digital initiatives curated to connect more people in more ways to the Olympics.
New broadcast technologies
The coverage produced by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) will take audiences closer to the Games – aimed at creating the feeling of being there in absence of overseas spectators.
This includes bringing the athletes’ performances to life like never before, with Beijing 2022 becoming the first Olympic Winter Games to be fully produced natively in Ultra High Definition (UHD) High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 5.4.1. immersive audio. By offering this ultra-vivid picture quality and natural three-dimensional sound, the coverage from Beijing will offer a thrilling viewing experience with stunning detail.
Continuing to take immersive production to an even higher level, a collaboration with Worldwide Olympic Partner Intel will see OBS capture, produce and distribute the Olympic Winter Games in live 8K Virtual Reality (VR) for the first time. Through a much improved, smoother user experience, Olympic fans (via participating Rights-Holding Broadcasters (RHBs)) will be able to watch the action in higher quality, true-to-life VR and feel as if they are actually there alongside the athletes.
In addition, OBS has collaborated with Worldwide Olympic Partner OMEGA to provide more real-time data than at previous Games to give viewers and commentators an unprecedented level of analytical insight and engagement as the action unfolds.
This includes extending the live speed measurement for the downhill events in alpine skiing, allowing viewers around the world to be blown away by the astonishing speeds Olympic skiers achieve, and offering additional “jump” data for figure skating, freestyle skiing/snowboard halfpipe and ski jumping, with motion sensors and computer vision analysis helping to capture real-time data such as speed, height, length and duration to provide new levels of jump analysis.
For curling and speed skating, OBS is collaborating with Worldwide Olympic Partner Alibaba to use its leading-edge Cloud solution to seamlessly deliver unique multi-camera replays for viewers around the world in seconds.
“Beijing 2022 will offer an incredibly exciting glimpse into the immersive and virtualised future of Olympic broadcasting, exploring new and innovative ways of producing the Games while even further engaging worldwide audiences,” explains Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of OBS.
Record hours of Olympic Winter Games coverage
The RHBs are offering record-breaking hours of Olympic Winter Games coverage and more ways to watch it than ever before.
China Media Group is airing over 600 hours of content, a Winter Games record in host nation China, on the network’s primary CCTV1 channel, the sports channels CCTV5 and CCTV5+, and the dedicated Olympic channel, CCTV16. In addition, 1,410 hours of live and on-demand content will be available on CMG’s online streaming service and mobile apps.
In the USA, NBCUniversal will present over 2,800 hours of Beijing 2022 coverage across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app – a US Winter Olympic record.
Discovery will air coverage in 50 markets across Europe. Its discovery+ and Eurosport streaming services will be the only place to watch all of the Olympic Winter Games, spanning more than 1,200 hours of live coverage.
Within Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada is set to provide comprehensive around-the-clock coverage of the Games, with more than 2,400 hours of live content.
Virtual Fan Engagement
Building on its successful introduction during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, OBS will once again deploy a suite of virtual fan engagement applications to connect athletes with fans worldwide.
Wherever they are in the world, fans can show their support and cheer on their favourite athletes and teams. They are invited to video themselves recording a message of support that will later be broadcast in Olympic venues, on Olympics.com and on the RHBs’ digital platforms.
Presented on the big screens inside the Olympic venues, the Fan Video Wall will help athletes feel the support and give fans the opportunity to be there, while the virtual Cheer Map will provide a dynamic display from the world’s sporting fans – both contributing to further enrich the athletes’ Olympic experience.
“Athlete Moments” returns across all sports and venues, allowing athletes to connect with their family and friends back home immediately after walking off the field of play.
“Virtual Fan Engagement innovation epitomises the Olympic spirit and the core values of togetherness and inclusion,” adds Exarchos. “The overwhelmingly emotional response from the athletes in Tokyo to this opportunity to connect with their loved ones was truly amazing. We foresee these moments becoming a fundamental part of the athlete experience, connecting them to their friends and family all over the world.”
Digital platform innovation
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is providing more opportunities for people to connect and interact with the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and fellow fans than ever before.
Collaborations with a record number of world-leading digital platforms will make it easier than ever to experience the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. The very best of Beijing will be available – from live scores to updated medal counts and highlights content from RHBs.
Fans around the world will be able to join the conversation wherever they are. On Twitter, 20 bespoke Official Beijing 2022 Twitter emojis are available in over 30 languages – including the Olympic mascots, sport pictograms and medals.
A dedicated content hub on TikTok gives seamless access to the latest from their favourite teams, athletes and sports. Here, supporters will also be able to participate in the #OlympicSpirit hashtag challenge to share how they are getting involved with the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
Fans can express themselves with 500 Olympic Winter GIFs via Tenor. Custom sticker packs featuring iconic Olympic venues and Beijing 2022 mascots are now available on messaging apps and social platforms.
On Instagram, try out a pair of ski goggles, ice skates and even a luge helmet, with three bespoke Instagram filters available:
In China, fans will be able to participate in a pictogram challenge on Douyin and a sticker challenge on Weibo to show how they will be cheering for the Games.
Fans can keep up to date with their favourite teams, athletes and sports through the Microsoft product ecosystem, including Microsoft Bing and Windows.
IOC owned and operated digital channel Olympics.com and the Official Olympics channel on YouTube will deliver live sporting action to fans in the Indian subcontinent and Brazil. In 72 territories, Olympics.com, the official Olympics channels on YouTube and Facebook will feature the best of each day’s highlights from Beijing.
The Olympics app returns for Beijing 2022. Available worldwide for free, it provides up-to-date news, results, personalised schedules and exclusive content from the Olympic Winter Games. Here, Olympic FANZONE provides a destination to interact with fellow fans around the world through game play, including Olympic Fantasy and Trivia.
Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television Marketing Services (TMS), said: “Our aim is to bring people together all over the world. In the absence of international fans in Beijing, it’s more important than ever to provide the opportunities for people to do this digitally, no matter where they are or what platforms they use. Through these wide-ranging digital offerings, Olympic fans are able to connect with each other, join the conversation and experience the action and emotion of the Olympic Winter Games.”
