Paris 2024 Olympics: Reflections and Expectations for LA 2028 from 7 Experts

I have asked few of people in my network with direct experience of the games these 3 questions for A guy with a scarf :

1. How was Paris 2024 compared to your expectations? What exceeded, what fell short.

2. The most innovative thing you saw (in any of venue, broadcast, digital, social).

3. What should be improved in LA?

Those who were so kind to take the time to share their thoughts and self-record a 5 minutes video are:

• Sarah Lewis OBE OLY
• Michael Payne
• Sébastien Audoux
• Alex Balfour
• Thierry Fautier
• Joe Farren
• Peter Scott

Here is what they had to say

Exceeding Expectations

Paris 2024 was widely praised for surpassing expectations and revitalizing the Olympic spirit. Sarah Lewis, a seasoned Olympic observer, noted, "I believe that the Paris 2024 Games achieved something very special with people falling in love with the Olympics again." This sentiment was echoed by Michael Payne, who attended his 22nd Olympic Games, stating, "Paris expectations, I mean, they exceeded anything I could imagine and really brought the Olympic Games back to that, the forefront with a massive reboot to the Olympic brand."

The Games' success was attributed to several factors:

1. Iconic Venues: The use of Paris's historic landmarks as backdrops for events was a highlight. Sebastien Audoux praised "the overall outlook of the game, how it looked on tv, how easy it was to move from one event to another." Michael Payne elaborated, "It was the stage, the incredible backdrop against the historical buildings where they turned all of Paris into a sports venue."
2. Organizational Success: Despite initial doubts, the Games ran smoothly. Alex Balfour noted, "The level of organisation, I think the look and feel of the Games was just unbelievable, like the design, the presentation."
3. Technological Advancements: Thierry Fautier highlighted the successful implementation of UHD broadcasting: "We've been talking about UHD for ten years, and I used to be the one saying it was still a ways off. But now, ten years later, we have the production by OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services) in 100% UHD."
4. Public Engagement: Joe Farren observed, "I think going into it, I read a lot of like negative press online and, you know, I think people maybe seemed a bit underwhelmed by the opening ceremony, but I mean, going into it, it was unbelievable."
5. Smooth Operations: Pete Scott shared, "I can honestly say Paris was fantastic. Our team was able to implement our technology with two broadcasters, and I was there 17 days. The city was magnificent."

Innovative Aspects

Several innovative features stood out during the Paris 2024 Olympics:

1. Digital Ticketing: Michael Payne praised the successful implementation of digital tickets with dynamic barcodes, stating, "The first time ever we'd seen digital tickets being used at the Olympic Games with a dynamic barcode."
2. Broadcast Enhancements: Thierry Fautier highlighted the advancements in UHD broadcasting and distribution, noting that "70% of population covered no glitch" for UHD DTT in France.
3. Cultural Integration: Joe Farren mentioned the "hospitality houses" that were opened to the public for the first time, offering a unique cultural experience.
4. Athlete Celebrations: Sarah Lewis commended the "champions park," which created "this celebration of the athletes after their competitions in a more relaxed way and such a fantastic environment."
5. Social Media Integration: Pete Scott noted, "I think they understood the audience and the power of social and were able to basically cascade all those video highlights in social and really attract a different audience that wanted snackable highlights."

Areas for Improvement

While Paris 2024 was largely successful, there were areas identified for improvement:

1. Food Quality: Michael Payne pointed out that despite high expectations, "The food was not good, and a lot of the teams had to make alternative plans."
2. Graphics and Data Presentation: Thierry Fautier noted, "There were very little graphics to support the event," suggesting that this aspect could be enhanced in future Games.
3. Transportation App: Michael Payne mentioned that the traffic app for navigating Paris "didn't work" effectively even after three weeks.
4. Sponsor Integration: Concerns were raised about the increasing commercialization, particularly on the medal stand.

Looking Ahead to LA 2028

As attention turns to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, experts offered suggestions for improvements and expectations:

1. Technological Advancements: Alex Balfour suggested, "I'd love to see a bit more use of kind of 3D technology, the volumetric tracking for replays, for broadcast enhancements, and for other kind of more interactive fan engagement experiences."
2. AI Integration: Thierry Fautier predicted, "By that time we'll have AI much more better understood. People will be able to use AI in a much more powerful way, including give you the best camera view for the specific event you are watching."
3. Enhanced Graphics and Statistics: Multiple experts emphasized the need for improved graphics and data presentation. Thierry Fautier suggested, "Check what exists on tennis, on football, american football, soccer, that's available. Why not make it available?"
4. Transportation Challenges: Pete Scott highlighted the potential transportation issues in LA, stating, "The transportation abilities that Paris had are going to be very, very hard to replicate in LA, and I think that's going to be super interesting to see how they figure it out."
5. Unique Identity: Michael Payne expressed confidence in LA's ability to bring "new thinking, new energy to the Olympics in the same way Peter Ueberroth did in 1984."
6. Continued Innovation: Sebastien Audoux looked forward to future advancements, saying, "I think we're going to see more of that in the future. But to be honest with you, I was absolutely ecstatic."

As the Olympic torch passes from Paris to Los Angeles, the challenge lies in building upon the successes of Paris 2024 while addressing areas for improvement. With its unique blend of Hollywood glamour and technological innovation, LA 2028 has the potential to deliver an unforgettable Olympic experience that pushes the boundaries of sports presentation and audience engagement.

The Paris 2024 Olympics have set a high bar, rekindling the Olympic spirit and showcasing the power of cultural integration and technological advancement. As Sebastien Audoux aptly put it, "I guess we are all very proud of how it went and how it looked in particular on tv." The stage is now set for Los Angeles to carry this momentum forward and create its own Olympic legacy in 2028.

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