MILAN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Drones and artificial intelligence are being expanded in broadcast coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics to enhance the viewing experience, Olympic Broadcasting Services said Tuesday.
In events such as speed skating, cameras now track athletes closely from behind, emphasizing speed and creating a more immersive sense of the arena. Accompanying those shots is a faint buzzing sound produced not by traditional cameramen, but by drones.
"We use a total of 25 drones," said OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos. "We use them in almost all sports, with the exception of ice hockey and curling."
Exarchos said the drones are customized for individual sports, following extensive testing and coordination with international federations to ensure safety and effectiveness. Drone pilots are also trained sport by sport, with some coming from relevant backgrounds.
"Some of them are actually former athletes from those sports, which makes all the difference," Exarchos said. "They know exactly where the best pictures are."
OBS first used drones at the 2014 Sochi Games, though at that time they were larger and limited to operating outside competition areas. Advances in technology have since allowed smaller, lighter drones to operate within the field of play while meeting strict safety standards.
"Internally, we also sought the opinions of athletes," Exarchos said. "They have been supportive because they see the footage, they see the results, and they understand what it means for audiences to better understand what they do."
Artificial intelligence tools are also being further developed for the Milan-Cortina Games. The 360-degree replay system introduced at Beijing 2022 will now be available across all events, using AI to calculate and visualize metrics such as speed, jump height and rotation counts.
"This is exactly the moment when spectators want to understand what has happened," Exarchos said, adding that the technology helps explain movement, complexity and performance in time and space.
In the past, producing such precise replays could take hours or even days, but now it can be achieved in just five seconds. According to OBS, AI helps separate athletes from the background and generate three-dimensional motion images, while also calculating relevant data.
Processes that once took hours or days can now be completed in about five seconds. According to OBS, AI separates athletes from backgrounds, creates three-dimensional motion images and calculates performance data in real time.
With support from OBS partner Alibaba, a real-time analysis platform has also been developed to identify highlight moments using video, audio, commentary and data.
Exarchos said the system is particularly valuable for broadcasters during periods of high demand for clips of star athletes, adding that the use of AI and drones is meant to support storytelling rather than showcase technology.
"It's about the athletes and the Games," Exarchos said. "It's about telling their stories, engaging audiences and doing it in the most effective way possible." ■
