Through a partnership with the IOC and OBS, Samsung Galaxy technology will offer global viewers a fresh and immersive look at the world’s elite athletes at the prestigious event.

Today, Samsung Electronics, a Global Olympic and Paralympic Partner, revealed its joint efforts with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to redefine the broadcast experience for the Paris 2024 Games audience. Pioneering footage — captured specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — will play a crucial role in offering unprecedented views of the grand Opening Ceremony on the Seine River and the sailing events during the Olympics.

As the Official Smartphone and Computing Equipment sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Samsung will utilize its cutting-edge mobile technology and 5G connectivity to provide a closer look at these iconic celebratory and competitive instances. This innovative perspective, driven by Samsung Galaxy technology, aims to enhance the transparency of Paris 2024 as the most accessible Games ever and further solidify Samsung’s commitment to innovation in Olympic and Paralympic support.

“In our increasingly interconnected world, Samsung Galaxy mobile technology has played a significant role in enriching and reshaping users’ connections with the world, no matter their location. With nearly thirty years as a Global Partner, we understand how crucial it is to establish and facilitate meaningful connections at the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” stated Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are privileged to collaborate closely with the IOC and OBS to deliver high-quality content that will mark a series of groundbreaking moments at Paris 2024, bringing fans both on-site and at home even closer to the thrill.”

Only a month away, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games will occur outside a traditional stadium for the first time. Paris 2024 will witness 10,500 athletes gliding down the Seine River in assigned boats for each national delegation, in an attempt to host the most open and inclusive opening ceremony yet. Embarking from the Austerlitz bridge, the notable parade will traverse a six-kilometer route through Paris’ heart, passing by official Olympic Games venues before culminating at the Trocadéro for the ceremony’s grand climax.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Ensures Prime Views of the Games for Spectators

To bring home viewers closer to the action and offer an inside look at athletes’ responses during this unprecedented journey, Samsung will position over 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones on the bow and sides of each of the 85 athlete boats at the commencement of the ceremony. The high-quality HDR footage captured with the Galaxy S24 Ultra devices will be shared and streamed through a private 5G network facilitated by Orange, the official mobile network provider of Paris 2024 in France. Orange will set up more than a dozen 5G antennas along the Seine to establish the inaugural 5G standalone network in France, ensuring uninterrupted 5G connectivity and viewing experience for fans worldwide.

Samsung will extend this technology to the sailing events in Marseille by equipping each competition boat with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, allowing fans to relish the thrill of the race alongside their adored Olympians and enabling them to immerse themselves in the action.

This introduced a whole host of new challenges and required months of research, development, and testing — in close partnership with OBS and Orange — to guarantee video quality and connectivity performance across diverse bodies of water and prevailing weather conditions, which may include strong winds with sizable waves or intense heat and sunlight. Samsung and its partners tackled these obstacles by leveraging the optical image stabilization (OIS) features of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, enhancing transmission power, and setting up relay towers on chase boats to ensure a seamless live-streaming experience for viewers.

“As the host broadcaster of the Olympic Games, we are immensely enthusiastic about this alliance with Samsung, which will provide a truly unique view of Paris 2024, transforming the way fans experience the Games,” remarked Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer of OBS. “Samsung’s latest mobile innovation will enable millions of fans globally to witness and feel the spirit, intensity, and sentiment of the Opening Ceremony and sailing competitions alongside their beloved athletes in real-time.”

Samsung’s Enduring Contribution to the Olympic Games

This declaration heralds the next chapter in Samsung’s longstanding dedication, closely collaborating with the IOC to steer digital evolution and introduce cutting-edge technology at the Games by extending the latest mobile innovations to athletes, fans, and communities. The initiative began with the inaugural ‘Call Home’ program, enabling almost 2,500 athletes to converse with their families at no cost in 1998 when mobile phone access was limited. It progressed with the Wireless Olympic Works (WOW) app, the initial official Olympic information service on mobile. The WOW app debuted to Olympic organizers through Samsung-provided Palm OS phones at Athens 2004 and was later accessible to the public at Vancouver 2010, furnishing fans with instant Games-time updates on their mobile devices.

In addition to steering mobile evolution, Samsung has enhanced how athletes and staff connect and communicate during the Games. Since Nagano 1998, Samsung has equipped athletes and staff with over 120,000 mobile products in total.

Further details on how Samsung will leverage its technological capabilities to bring fans closer to athletes, in another Olympic first, will be unveiled in the imminent weeks.

About Samsung’s Engagement in the Olympic Games
Samsung has served as a Global Olympic Partner since the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998. For over 25 years, athletes and fans have relied on Samsung’s transformative mobile technology to share the Olympic ethos globally, shaping the digital future of the Olympic Games for Paris 2024 and beyond. The company’s dedication to the Olympic Movement is approaching its fourth decade, extending through Los Angeles 2028. Samsung’s purposeful advancements in wireless communications and computing equipment category, encompassing technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and 5G, will revolutionize the global Olympic Games experience.

About Samsung’s Role in the Paralympic Games
Samsung serves as a Global Partner of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the wireless communications and computing equipment category. Since the Paralympic Winter Games Torino 2006, the company has ardently supported the Paralympic Movement, enabling athletes and fans worldwide to embrace the excitement and inspiration of the Games through Samsung’s transformative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment to the Paralympic Games will endure until Los Angeles 2028, showcasing innovative mobile and computing experiences driven by purposeful advancements in wireless communications and computing equipment, featuring technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and 5G.