The 2026 Winter Olympics will showcase a wide range of technological innovations, from AI-powered replays and interactive online experiences to drones capturing first-person action, offering fans an unprecedented view of the Games. Organisers say technology will transform the way audiences watch events on television and engage with content through social media and AI chatbots.
The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) will deploy first-person drones (FPV) that follow athletes at close range, including down luge tracks, delivering high-speed perspectives that make viewers feel as though they are racing alongside the competitors. “What we’ve got now is a new generation of technology that really allows for a safe use of drones very close to the action,” said Yiannis Exarchos, OBS CEO.
Artificial intelligence is also being integrated into replays, enabling the generation of 260-degree videos in seconds by combining footage from multiple camera angles. Demonstrations have shown AI freezing a skier mid-jump while tracking jump height, airtime, and landing speed. Enhanced replay content will be converted into virtual reality videos for social media platforms, giving fans deeper insights into athletic performance. AI-driven graphics will also track stone trajectory, speed, and sweeping frequency in curling.
For the first time, the official Olympics website will feature an AI assistant trained on verified Olympic data. The tool can answer questions, provide real-time results, and generate summaries of highlights and news articles, helping viewers navigate events efficiently. Social media storytelling is expanding as well, with TikTok short films, YouTube “cultural moments,” and content across Meta platforms, WeChat, LINE, Kuaishou, and Douyin. Dedicated social media creators will be stationed at every venue to produce tailored content.
Athlete welfare is another focus. An AI-powered system returning from Paris 2024 will detect and flag abusive social media posts. During the previous Games, it flagged 2.4 million posts in over 35 languages. Competitors will also have access to digital tools like the Athlete365 app and Get Set, Train Smarter, which integrate injury prevention into training. The “Athlete Moment” feature allows livestream connections with family and friends immediately after events.
Sustainability and design are highlighted in the new Olympic torches, named “Essential,” which feature a transparent window showing the flame and its internal mechanisms. The burners use biofuel derived from food waste, while the torches themselves are made from recycled aluminium and brass, reusable up to ten times. Raffaela Panie, director of brand and identity for Milano 2026, said the design reflects Italy’s focus on sustainability. The Olympic torch relay began in Rome on December 6, 2025, and will arrive in Milan on February 5.
The combination of AI, drones, digital engagement, athlete support, and environmentally conscious design makes the Milano-Cortina Games one of the most technologically advanced Winter Olympics to date, providing fans and participants with new ways to experience and connect with the events.
