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Virtual production is transforming the Olympic viewing experience. Here’s how.

Posted 7 Aug 2024

The Olympics have always been a showcase of human achievement, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. While all eyes are on the sporting action at the 2024 Paris Games, a new frontier is also being explored: virtual production. Not just a buzzword, it’s a game-changer set to transform how the world watches and experiences the Olympics.

What is virtual production?

Virtual production combines live-action footage and computer graphics in real-time making use of technologies ranging from massive LED screens to game engines, artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing. For the 2024 Olympics, this means more immersive broadcasts, enhanced athlete storytelling, and an unprecedented level of at-home viewer engagement.

 

Virtual sports: A new Olympic experience

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is already exploring virtual sports with its Olympic Virtual Series (OVS) which debuted ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games. This event has created an opportunity for the physical sporting world to connect with the online gaming community in an accessible way. 

This isn’t the only avenue the IOC is exploring in the digital world; it’s also proposing the ‘Olympic Esports Games’ at the 142nd IOC Session in 2024 (IOC) built off of the success of the Olympic Esports Week, where 130 players competed in 10 events with over 6 million views around the world. This type of event is proving to be successful, showcased by Digital Catapult’s own esports tournament in the North East, where immersive virtual reality gaming was combined with the benefits of physical exercise. Efforts to incorporate virtual production techniques into online and physical communities and events could help audience engagement skyrocket. 

Cutting-edge broadcast technologies

For Paris 2024, the integration of AI and cloud-based technologies is set to revolutionise Olympic broadcasting. AI-driven tools like automatic highlights generation and generative assisted editing aim to streamline production, making it faster and more efficient to deliver high-quality content to viewers. (Paris 2024 Olympics)​​. 

The impact of latency (delay) across the various phases of virtual production is a fundamental challenge, for live performances in particular. Optimising latency within virtual production processes will support smoother, faster and better screen performance (as we are doing at the Advanced Media Production studios in Gateshead and London). New future network solutions delivered through 5G, and increasingly optimised using artificial intelligence, reduce latency to help provide a seamless performance for viewers. 

Advanced Media Production (1)

Transforming viewer experiences

Imagine immersing yourself in the Olympics by stepping into a virtual stadium. Beyond the TV or a mobile device, the metaverse is making this possible, allowing fans to explore Olympic venues, participate in mini-games, and interact with each other in a virtual environment. (Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 Olympics)​. 

Another project that tested how to create new ways for fans to experience live events is 5G VISTA. Using 5G broadcast technology to deliver exciting new ways for fans in-venue to engage with a live event directly to their mobile device, this ambitious experiment brought together a consortium of organisations from across the mobile and media landscape, combining skills, knowledge, and experience to explore the potential of 5G to enhance fan engagement.

The future is here

With the Paris Olympics, one thing is clear: virtual production is more than a trend, it’s the future of sports broadcasting. By integrating technologies like virtual production, the 2024 Paris Olympics are set to offer a viewing experience that’s more immersive, interactive, and inclusive than ever before. The future of the games is virtual, and it’s incredibly exciting.

Don’t miss out on the latest opportunities in virtual production from the Advanced Media Production Network. Click here to discuss an upcoming project or research challenges and be the first to know about exciting updates, use cases, and reports that are coming up.

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