Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, has revealed its collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to transform the broadcast experience for viewers and fans during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Exciting, groundbreaking footage will be captured and shared using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. This footage will be a key part of the spectacular Opening Ceremony on the Seine River and will provide a unique perspective on the Olympic Games’ sailing competitions.
As the Official Smartphone and Computing Equipment partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Samsung is committed to using its cutting-edge mobile technology and 5G connectivity to offer a unique and immersive experience of these memorable celebratory and competitive moments. This fresh perspective, fueled by the innovative technology of Samsung Galaxy, will not only assist Paris 2024 in fulfilling its commitment to being the most inclusive Games to date, but also continue Samsung’s tradition of pioneering advancements in support of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In today’s interconnected world, Samsung Galaxy mobile technology has played a significant role in enhancing and revolutionising users’ connections with the world, regardless of their location. With almost thirty years of experience as a Worldwide Partner, we understand the significance of fostering and facilitating meaningful connections at the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” stated Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “It is a great privilege for us to collaborate closely with the IOC and OBS in delivering top-notch footage that will contribute to a series of groundbreaking moments at Paris 2024. Our aim is to enhance the experience for fans, both at home and on-site, by bringing them even closer to the thrilling action.”
In just under a month, the Olympic Games’ Opening Ceremony will make history by being held outside of a stadium for the very first time. Paris 2024 is set to host a remarkable opening ceremony, where 10,500 athletes will gracefully glide down the Seine River in specially assigned boats representing their respective nations. This event is designed to be the epitome of inclusivity and accessibility, aiming to create a truly memorable experience for all. Starting from the Austerlitz bridge, the famous parade will travel along a six-kilometer route through the heart of Paris, passing by several official Olympic Games venues before concluding with a grand finale at the Trocadéro.
Galaxy S24 Ultra Gives Viewers Front Row Seat to the Games
To bring fans at home closer to the action and provide an intimate glimpse of athlete’s reactions during this once-in-a-lifetime voyage, Samsung will install more than 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones at the bow and sides of each of the 85 athlete vessels at the opening ceremony. The high-quality HDR footage taken with the Galaxy S24 Ultra devices will be shared and streamed via a private 5G network powered by Orange, the official mobile network provider of Paris 2024 in France. Orange will install more than a dozen of 5G antennas along the Seine to create the first-ever 5G standalone network in France, as this pioneering collaboration is designed to ensure a seamless 5G connectivity and viewing experience for fans around the world.
Samsung will also deploy the same technology for the sailing competitions in Marseille by installing the Galaxy S24 Ultra on each competition boat, letting fans experience the thrill of the race alongside their favorite Olympians and allowing them to truly get in on the action.
This presented a whole new set of challenges and months of research, development and testing – in close collaboration with the OBS and Orange – to guarantee video quality and connectivity performance across various bodies of water and weather conditions, which can be really windy with huge waves or extremely hot and sunny. Samsung and its partners addressed these challenges by leveraging the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Optical image stabilization (OIS) features, increasing transmission power, and installing relay towers on chase boat to ensure a seamless livestream experience for viewers.
“As host broadcaster of the Olympic Games, we’re incredibly excited about this partnership with Samsung which will allow a truly original perspective of Paris 2024, evolving the way in which fans will experience the Games,” said Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer of OBS. “Samsung’s latest mobile innovation will allow millions of fans around the world to live and breathe the spirit, action and emotion of the Opening Ceremony and sailing competitions alongside their favorite athletes in real-time.”
Samsung’s Long-Running Contribution to the Games
This announcement marks the next stage of Samsung’s long-standing commitment, in close collaboration with the IOC, to drive digital transformation and deliver cutting-edge technology at the Games by opening up the latest mobile innovations to athletes, fans and communities alike. This originated with the first ‘Call Home’ program which allowed nearly 2,500 athletes to speak to their families back home for free in 1998, when access to mobile phones was limited. It continued with the Wireless Olympic Works (WOW) app, the first official Olympic information service on mobile. The WOW app was introduced to Olympic organizers via Samsung-supplied Palm OS phones at Athens 2004 and then was made available to the public at Vancouver 2010, providing fans with the latest Games-time updates straight to their mobile phones.
In addition to driving mobile innovation, Samsung has also contributed to how athletes, and staff, connect and communicate during the Games-time. Since Nagano 1998, Samsung has provided athletes and staff with a total of more than 120,000 mobile products.
Details of how Samsung will further leverage its technological capabilities to bring fans closer to athletes, in another Olympic first will be revealed in the coming weeks.
