Noah Lyles’ promise to be the fastest man alive in this year’s Paris games was one that was accompanied by anticipation and expectation. While Lyles won the bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Games, he set his sights on the gold, training and pushing himself to be the world’s best in the 100m dash. On August 4th 2024, spectators from around the world watched to see if Lyles could properly claim the title of fastest man. In under 10 seconds, the race was done with both Lyles and Kishane Thompson finishing at the same time. To determine the winner, Olympic officials utilized multiple sensors and new cameras developed by Omega that shoot 40,000 frames per second. These cameras were aimed at the track from different angles so officials could obtain multiple views of the finishing line, which enabled a full recreation of whose body crowded crossed the line first. However, because the race was so close, many of us spectators, armchair officials as we were, took to social media to debate who won the race. Nonetheless, with those cameras, officials were able to determine that Lyles won by five-thousandths of a second. Ironically, the tool determining who won the race generated as much attention as the race itself.
Since 1896, countries from all over the world have sent representatives to compete in different events, fostering competition and igniting the world’s imagination for what humans can achieve. This competition pushes athletes to perform their best in hopes of winning a medal for their country. While spectators tune into the Olympics to watch the likes of Simone Biles, LeBron James, and Noah Lyles performing at the peak of their respective fields, the innovative technology utilized in the games is also exceptional and exciting.
While the focus should and will always remain on the athletes, sports are supported heavily by technology. Companies are always pushing themselves to develop physical and digital tools for athletes with advanced sports equipment, training tools, health monitors, advanced cameras, running shoes, and so much more. Tech comes into play during the Olympics by supporting aspects like monitoring and judging the athletes. For example, the 2024 Olympics used software to determine “too close to call” races as well as document vivid play-by-plays to ensure no rules were violated. While monitoring tools are nothing new, one of the biggest developments for this Olympics was the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
For this year’s games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) debuted an Olympic AI Agenda. Thomas Bach, IOC President, emphasized the importance of embracing the rapid development of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence. Bach noted “[o]ur continued success depends on how we embrace the ever-accelerating development of digital technology, and in particular Artificial Intelligence. This makes our Olympic Agenda 2020 imperative ‘change or be changed’ even more urgent.” As such, the IOC implemented the use of AI within varying aspects of this year’s Olympic games to create better experiences for spectators and competitors alike. Everything, from an enhanced viewer experience to athlete performance and ensuring fair play, was impacted by AI.
The IOC recognized how AI could support Olympic and Paralympic operations, grow engagement with viewers across the globe, and ultimately improve the IOC’s operation. The IOC’s wide embrace of AI across different facets of the Olympic games demonstrates how rapidly-advancing technology can be utilized to accelerate positive change across global sports. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the Olympic games and its interplay with sport will become even more prominent.
AI was not the only tech to pay attention to at this year’s Olympic games, and tech influenced so many unexpected aspects of the Olympics such as phones and cooling tech. To help athletes stay connected, Samsung created almost 17,000 Galaxy Z Flip 6 Olympic Edition phones to be given away to athletes and “Olympic Family”. The phones featured 100 GB of 5G data, as well as preloaded apps to help athletes to navigate the Olympic and Paralympic games and an unlimited metrocard. Samsung also created themed rendezvous spots around the Olympic village, and even opened a special pop-up experience in the heart of Paris for spectators and fans to take part in the fun! And to beat the heat, athletes brought CoolMitt to Paris, helping regulate heat and core temperature to maintain top performance. There was even tech purifying the air at the Olympic village.
All this tech means intellectual property was also scattered throughout every game, athlete, and ceremony. For instance, inventions like 8K live streaming and sophisticated scoring systems are all protected by intellectual property law. Even the Olympic rings themselves, one of the most recognized symbols globally, are protected as a trademark, and unauthorized use is vigorously defended.
Competition brings with it the hopes to be the best. As athletes are pushing themselves everyday, technology companies are pushing themselves to assist in whatever way they can. The athletes competing today have improved immensely from those that began the games back in 1896, and future athletes will reach performances beyond the ones we saw in Paris. This year’s Olympics has shown us just how much technology and sport have pushed each other to new heights, and we can’t wait to see what future Olympics hold in store.