Ep. 38: Alex Balfour - Digital Evolution of the Olympics: From London 2012 to Paris 2024

For episode 38 of A guy with a scarf , I sat down with Alex Balfour , a digital pioneer in the world of sports and entertainment. Balfour, who served as the Head of New Media for the London 2012 Olympic Games, shares his insights on the digital evolution of the Olympics and the changing landscape of sports engagement.

London Olympics were a great experience for me working on the digital side (website+ apps) for LOCOG with him, and also for the live video side of things (we would say OTT today) with NBC, BBC and many others.

There is nothing like the Olympics.

Previous Olympics Episodes:

• Yiannis Exarchos - Watch here
• Terrence Burns - Watch here

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The Digital Transformation of the Olympics

Balfour's journey with the Olympics began in 2006, a time when the digital landscape was vastly different from today. He recalls, "When I joined the organizing committee in 2006, Facebook existed, I think, barely. Twitter hadn't quite launched, Instagram didn't launch for two or three years later." This context sets the stage for understanding the rapid digital transformation that occurred in the lead-up to the 2012 Games.

One of the most significant changes was the rise of mobile technology. Balfour notes, "By the time we got to the games, around 50% of our web traffic, for example, was mobile." This shift required adaptability and foresight in planning digital strategies for the Games.

The Unique Challenges of Olympic Digital Engagement

The Olympics present unique challenges in terms of digital engagement due to their sheer scale and diversity. Balfour explains, "It's 26 world championships going on in parallel... covering all that stuff was difficult." This complexity makes it challenging to communicate the full scope of the event through digital channels.

Moreover, the Olympics face the challenge of making lesser-known athletes and sports engaging to a global audience. Balfour points out, "Olympic athletes are generally not household names... often the games makes heroes of people who then go back into not being professional athletes afterwards."

The Evolution of Storytelling in Sports

One of the key takeaways from the interview is the changing nature of storytelling in sports. Balfour emphasizes the importance of emotional connection, stating, "I think that's almost more important, frankly, than the sport and the results." He recalls a conversation with Seb Coe, who predicted that the 2012 Games would be remembered for their atmosphere rather than specific sporting achievements.

This shift in focus has been facilitated by the rise of social media and streaming platforms. Balfour notes the impact of platforms like TikTok, mentioning, "In Tokyo, from memory, the number one profile athlete was Ilona Mayer... the USA rugby player, because she was just really strong on TikTok."

The Role of Athletes in Digital Engagement

The interview highlights the changing role of athletes in digital engagement. While in 2012, athletes' personal channels were less prominent, today they play a crucial role in creating and distributing content. Balfour notes, "There are lots of athletes now who either in the run up to the games or because of the games, their individual profile raises. And they have their own channel."

This shift has led to changes in IOC regulations, with Balfour explaining, "The IRC has recognized that there's now less constraints around what athletes can do in terms of the footage they can create, the visibility they can have for their sponsors."

Looking Ahead to Paris 2024 and Beyond

As the conversation turns to the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, Balfour expresses optimism about the future of the Games. He praises the IOC's strategy of selecting strong venues for future Games, saying, "All really, really strong venues, strong areas, countries that know how to get stuff done. And I think it'll only reinvigorate the franchise."

Balfour also touches on the evolving business side of digital engagement in sports. He mentions his current focus: "What we do now is around monetizing... I finally started to solve that problem, to define what this stuff is worth in cash terms."

Key Takeaways

1. The digital landscape of the Olympics has evolved dramatically since 2012, with mobile and social media becoming central to engagement strategies.
2. The sheer scale and diversity of the Olympics present unique challenges for digital engagement and storytelling.
3. Emotional connection and atmosphere are increasingly important in sports engagement, often overshadowing specific results or performances.
4. Athletes have become key players in digital engagement, with their personal channels gaining prominence.
5. Regulations around athlete sponsorship and content creation have evolved to accommodate the changing digital landscape.
6. The future of the Olympics looks promising, with strong venues lined up and a continued focus on digital innovation.

As we look forward to Paris 2024, it's clear that the digital aspect of the Olympics will continue to evolve. The challenge remains to capture the enormity and emotion of the Games through digital channels, making the Olympic experience accessible and engaging for a global audience.

This is episode No. 149 of my LinkedIn newsletter, A guy with a scarf.

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