AI-infused Cloud powers the Paris Olympic 2024 broadcast with 400 live video streams and 3D rendering

With all the global disruptions that have occurred since 2020 (most recently last week!), it’s actually comforting that the Summer Olympics has returned to its familiar quadrennial cycle, with the best athletes in the world now in Paris, France, to compete for Olympic Gold. 

Of course, this will lead to many sleepless nights over the next two weeks (26 July to 11 August 2024) as the Olympic Games Paris 2024 takes place, as we stay up to watch our favourite sports and athletes compete live on streaming media.

All Olympic Games broadcast content is now in the cloud on a platform called Olympic Broadcasting Services Cloud (OBS Cloud) provided by Alibaba Cloud. Previous versions of OBS Cloud enabled Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHB) to access multiple Live streams, in High Definition (HD) and Ultra High Definition (UHD), for remote content production using a cloud-based workflow for fast, streamlined live broadcast editing.

For the Paris Games 2024, an AI-enhanced OBS Live Cloud has become the main method of remote distribution to 50+ broadcasters. Over 400 live video feeds and 100 audio feeds will be transmitted during the Games to approximately half the world’s population.

New AI multi-camera system for instant replays

A new OBS multi-camera replay system, with 17 multi-camera replay systems, has been implemented across 14 venues covering 21 sports, including rugby sevens, badminton, athletics track and field, basketball, beach volleyball, table tennis, wrestling, tennis and judo. This will enable a more immersive and dynamic experience for sports fans, with AI-driven features for live spatial reconstruction and real-time 3D rendering so that broadcasters can create seamless replays of an exciting moment just seconds after it occurred in a live broadcast.

Note that this multi-camera replay system is independent of any regulatory systems, so it cannot be used for VAR, though we expect every broadcast presenter or commentator to use it to become an expert VAR referee and line umpire.

All images: Alibaba Cloud.