Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a partner of the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees, announced today its plan to revolutionize the broadcasting experience of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for viewers and fans alike. This initiative, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Broadcasting Services, will feature unprecedented quality footage captured and broadcasted using Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra devices. These devices will play a central role in the historic opening ceremony on the River Seine and the Olympic sailing competitions.
As the official phone manufacturer of the Olympics and a computing partner of the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees, Samsung will leverage its advanced mobile technology. Combined with 5G connectivity, it will provide viewers with an up-close look at the celebratory and exciting competition moments. These broadcasts, relying on Samsung Galaxy's cutting-edge technologies, will help fulfill Paris 2024's promise to host the most open Games yet, while also drawing on Samsung's legacy of innovation to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"In today's connected society, Samsung Galaxy's mobile technology helps expand and deepen users' connections with the world wherever they are. As global partners of the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees for almost three decades, we know firsthand how important it is to create and enable those meaningful connections at the Olympics," said Stephanie Choi, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing for Samsung Electronics' Mobile Division. "We are honored to work closely with the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Broadcasting Services to deliver high-quality footage, part of a series of first-time experiences, bringing fans at home and at the event closer to the action."
In about a month, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will be held outside a stadium for the first time. The city of Paris will accompany 10,500 athletes sailing down the Seine in their delegation boats in what is expected to be the most open and accessible opening ceremony in Olympic history. The iconic procession, starting from the Austerlitz Bridge along a six-kilometer route through central Paris, will pass several official Olympic sites and culminate in a grand opening ceremony at Trocadero Square.
To bring viewers at home straight to the heart of the action and give them an intimate glimpse into the athletes' emotions at this one-of-a-kind, exciting event, Samsung will install over 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra devices on the bow and sides of the 85 delegation boats carrying the athletes to the opening ceremony. The high-quality HDR footage captured by Galaxy S24 Ultra devices will be shared and streamed to viewers via Orange's private 5G network, the official mobile provider for Paris 2024 in France. Orange will install more than ten 5G antennas along the Seine, creating France's first standalone 5G network in a pioneering collaboration to ensure smooth 5G connectivity and a stunning viewing experience for fans worldwide.
Samsung will deploy the same technology at the sailing competitions in Marseille by installing Galaxy S24 Ultra devices on all competing boats, allowing fans to experience the race's thrill up close with the athletes and truly immerse themselves in the action.
This initiative posed a series of new challenges and involved months of research, development, and testing. These were conducted in collaboration with the Olympic Broadcasting Services and Orange to ensure video quality and connectivity performance for footage and broadcasts from various water bodies under all weather conditions, including strong winds, high waves, and extreme heat and sunlight. Samsung and its partners addressed these challenges using the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) features, enhancing broadcast power, and installing mobile broadcast towers on a tugboat, all to provide viewers with a smooth live viewing experience.
"As the broadcasters of the Olympic Games, we are delighted with the partnership with Samsung that will offer a different and original perspective on Paris 2024 and transform how fans experience the Games," said Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services. "Samsung's latest mobile innovations will allow millions of fans worldwide to live and breathe the spirit, events, and emotions of the opening ceremony and sailing competitions with their athletes in real time."