{"id":12408,"date":"2024-08-14T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/?p=12408"},"modified":"2024-08-02T08:30:31","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T08:30:31","slug":"paris-olympics-2024-faster-higher-stronger-and-more-data-driven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/paris-olympics-2024-faster-higher-stronger-and-more-data-driven\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Olympics 2024: faster, higher, stronger \u2013 and more data-driven"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n Andy Miah<\/a>, University of Salford<\/a><\/em><\/span>\n\n

For the first post-COVID Olympics, there are some major changes now in place at the Paris 2024 Games. First of all, there are no physical tickets for visitors. All tickets are digital, but spectators can separately purchase an additional paper souvenir ticket for their event<\/a>. While this is significantly a COVID legacy, it\u2019s also a sign of the times, as more of the Olympic Games moves into the digital world.<\/p>\n\n

If we dig deeper, we see how the DNA of this transformation is a story about data and its expansion \u2013 and how the ability of the Olympics to grow economically relies on it being harnessed and exploited. As AI steadily changes the strategic positioning of all aspects of life, the sports world has rapidly begun a similar journey. AI is now playing a key role at the Olympics<\/a> across many areas, including performance analysis, doping checks, security threats, athlete comfort, sports reporting, and broadcasting.<\/p>\n\n

The Olympic Games have been quick to respond to the rapidly developing technological environment. Gone are the days where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) talked about its impact in terms of television viewing figures. Now, it\u2019s all about the live views across all channels<\/a>, and a looming presence at Paris 2024 is the prominence of TikTok, which itself is driving a huge amount of Olympic athlete content. It is even an official partner of Team GB<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"\n
\n <\/span>\n \n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\n\n

At a session before the opening ceremony, the IOC unanimously supported the creation of the Olympic Esports Games<\/a>, due to take place for the first time in Saudi Arabia in 2025, building on five years of developing esports in the Olympic programme. It will consist of competitions in familiar computer games formats such as Fornite, along with some new gaming titles which are aligned with traditional sports, including taekwondo, in virtual reality.<\/p>\n\n

This new event ends speculation about whether esports will ever make it into the Olympic Games. Planned to happen every two years \u2013 when the Olympics and Winter Olympics aren\u2019t taking place \u2013 it signals a major step change in how the sports world interacts with gaming and esports.<\/p>\n\n

Underpinning a number of these changes is the IOC\u2019s realisation that the economic model underpinning the Games needs to evolve. With 61%<\/a> of the income generated from television rights, and TV\u2019s future looking ever more uncertain, the IOC is betting on gaming and streaming platforms becoming a major feature of its future economy. <\/p>\n\n

Another major innovation this year was the creation of a ticketed experience in Imax<\/a> cinemas in the US for the opening ceremony, following the model of national theatres around the world.<\/p>\n\n

These new kinds of audience experiences may signal the end of the traditional family-viewing-at-home era. Instead people are more likely to either watch on their own on a personal computer device, or collectively in large groups. Similar shifts are taking place more widely in other major events, from Eurovision to the Euros.<\/p>\n\n

\n