As the Paris 2024 Olympics approach, there has been a lot of buzz about the tech innovation that will no doubt play an outsized role at the games, ranging from enhancing the fan experience to helping ensure safety for attendees. It’s fascinating to see how this technology integrates into large-scale events. I sat down with Rob Strechay, my colleague and fellow analyst here at theCUBE Research, to discuss some key technologies making headlines as the Games kick off this weekend. Here are our takeaways.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Tech Innovation on Display Watch the full episode here:
Data Centers and Sustainability
When talking tech innovation at the Paris 2024 Olympics, let’s start with Equinix. Well before the Olympics start, Equinix was talking about the company’s sustainability efforts at its data centers. In Paris, Equinix is walking the walk on the sustainability front and has managed to harness the heat coming from the IT infrastructure to heat the Olympic pool. That’s a pretty cool use of excess heat, and one that hopefully opens the door to other similar use cases in the future.
Equinix has been a leader in the sustainability and renewable energy space for some time, and this example shows its commitment to innovative solutions. In addition to heating the pool, Equinix has built a greenhouse on the roof of their data center, providing fresh vegetables to the Parisian community. This system of converting air to liquid and using heat exchangers has broader implications, especially with the rise of liquid cooling technologies, which can make heat transfer even more efficient. Equinix also noted that the company is collaborating with local utilities to heat nearby homes. So, while heating the pool is pretty impressive in and of itself, seeing Equinix create a sustainable ecosystem around the data center takes sustainability to a whole new level.
Orange Telecom Providing Private 5G for the Opening Parade
The Paris 2024 Olympics is proving to be an optimum place to showcase the benefits of private 5G. Orange Telecom is providing a private 5G network for the boats that will be used in the opening parade for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Instead of using network slicing in their public 5G network, Orange will use Cisco’s private 5G solution to ensure high-quality live stream video directly from the boats on the water. Private 5G can offer dedicated bandwidth and potentially lower latency (based on the spectrum used) compared to existing public networks, which is crucial for streaming high-definition video from moving boats. It’s a great example of how 5G technology can be applied in unique ways, especially for transportation-heavy events like the Olympics. Orange will have its public 5G network augmented to support the large crowds at the opening ceremonies and events. I’m looking forward to seeing the usage stats coming out of the event in the coming weeks.
Intel’s Role in the Paris 2024 Olympics
Intel is another major player at the Paris 2024 Olympics, contributing its CPUs, GPUs, and AI technologies. Intel’s tech powers the 5G networks, supports virtual reality, powers drones (which hopefully are not being used to spy on competitors!), and enhances overall computing capabilities.
Intel’s technology will be integral to handling the vast amounts of data and processing it quickly during the Paris Games. Intel is also the official AI platform partner, and integrating AI, especially for real-time data processing and enhanced experiences, is crucial. I love seeing this, as Intel’s involvement ensures that the infrastructure supporting the Paris 2024 Olympics can handle not only handle the complexities involved, but also deliver a seamless experience for viewers and participants alike.
Cisco’s Media Solutions on Stage at the Games
Cisco’s media solutions will be front and center at the Games, helping to ensure NBC Universal’s broadcasting and live-streaming are up to the task. NBC is using Cisco IP media fabric to connect all the video feeds to the operations center at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This technology streamlines media distribution and enhances the viewing experience. I’ve seen the Cisco IP media fabrics used at Gillette Stadium, which has its own video operations center in the facility, instead of packed into a truck outside, and it’s exciting to see it in use on a global stage.
Cisco’s fabric is an advanced solution designed to handle high demands for live broadcasting and on-demand content, which will be crucial for the extensive media coverage of the Olympics.
Google and AI Integration
Google is partnering with NBC to provide AI-driven insights and analytics at this year’s Olympics. Google’s AI will support Team USA and allow NBC announcers to leverage AI to enhance their commentary. It will be awesome to watch Google’s AI bring a new level of interactivity and information to the broadcast. AI can help deliver contextual insights and real-time data, enhancing the engagement and interactivity of the coverage. In addition, using AI to provide stats and other information will add a new dimension to how fans experience the Games.
AI Surveillance and Privacy
AI will play a crucial role in monitoring and managing the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite the prohibition on using facial recognition for privacy concerns. Orange Business and a small ecosystem of partners provide AI-driven surveillance during the Games, which will be used for security and fan experience. The integration of AI will help in myriad ways, including helping with crowd management, identification of security risks, ensuring the safety of athletes and attendees, as well as ensuring a smooth operation overall of the event.
This will be a good use case for deploying AI for surveillance without facial recognition to determine if a balance between security and privacy can be achieved, as the technology can analyze patterns and detect anomalies without infringing on personal privacy.
Conclusion
The Paris 2024 Olympics will showcase a wide array of technological advances and innovation and we are here for it! From sustainable data center innovations to cutting-edge 5G networks and AI applications, these technologies will help create a memorable, safe, and enjoyable Olympics experience that will be providing memories for athletes, their coaches and families, and the public, for years to come.
