Samsung will Equip Paris 2024 with 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra Smartphones for Enhanced Opening Ceremonies and Sailing Broadcasts. Leveraging the cutting-edge technology of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, this initiative aims to bring viewers closer to the action than ever before.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, has collaborated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to revolutionize the broadcast experience for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
As part of this groundbreaking endeavour, Samsung will strategically install over 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones during the Opening Ceremony and the sailing competitions. These smartphones will capture high-quality HDR footage, providing fans an intimate and immersive viewing experience. The initiative will use Samsung’s advanced mobile technology and 5G connectivity to ensure seamless streaming and high-quality video transmission.
The Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is set to be historic, taking place outside of a stadium for the first time. Athletes will float down the Seine River in designated boats for each national delegation, creating the most open and accessible opening ceremony in history. Samsung will install Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones at the bow and sides of each of the 85 athlete vessels, capturing the excitement and emotions of the athletes as they make their way along a six-kilometre route through the heart of Paris. This iconic parade will pass by several official Olympic Games venues before culminating in a grand finale at the Trocadéro.
To facilitate the seamless streaming of this footage, a private 5G network powered by Orange, the official mobile network provider of Paris 2024, will be deployed. Orange will install more than a dozen 5G antennas along the Seine to create the first-ever 5G standalone network in France. This pioneering collaboration aims to ensure a flawless connectivity and viewing experience for fans around the world.
Samsung will also apply the same technology to the sailing competitions in Marseille. Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones will be installed on each competition boat, allowing fans to experience the thrill of the race alongside their favourite Olympians. This immersive approach will bring fans closer to the action, providing a unique perspective on the competition.
This initiative presented a new set of challenges and required months of research, development, and testing. In collaboration with OBS and Orange, Samsung worked to ensure video quality and connectivity performance across various water conditions. The team leveraged the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) features, increased transmission power, and installed relay towers on chase boats to guarantee a seamless livestream experience for viewers.
Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer of OBS, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “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. 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 favourite athletes in real-time.”
Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, added, “In an increasingly connected society, Samsung Galaxy mobile technology has helped deepen and transform users’ relationships with the world, wherever they are. Having been a Worldwide Partner for nearly three decades, we know first-hand how important it is to create and enable the same meaningful connections at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We’re honoured to be working closely with the IOC and OBS to provide high quality footage that will be part of a series of firsts at Paris 2024 and bring fans at home and onsite even closer to the excitement.”
This announcement marks the next stage of Samsung’s long-standing commitment to driving digital transformation and delivering cutting-edge technology at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Samsung’s legacy of innovation includes the ‘Call Home’ program from 1998, which allowed athletes to communicate with their families, and the Wireless Olympic Works (WOW) app, providing fans with real-time updates during the Games.
Further details on how Samsung will leverage its technological capabilities to enhance the Olympic experience will be revealed in the coming weeks, continuing its tradition of bringing fans closer to the athletes and the action.
