Technology is set to play a huge role in the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will take place in Los Angeles, California. Even with the Olympics still more than a decade away, experts have already begun mulling the impact various technologies could have on the event’s various elements.
Advanced camera technology could remove human error from refereeing decisions, says founder and CEO of the sport media company Proday, Sarah Kunst. Wearables and other health-and performance-focused technologies could help athletes perform at unprecedented levels, says Gene Sykes, CEO of the 2028 Olympic bid. And unforeseen innovations might change how the story of the Olympics is told.
LA is no stranger to fantastical tales – filmmakers have gravitated to its central district, Hollywood, for over a century. The area is hardly averse to innovative tech either, with Silicon Valley only 350 miles away. And, according to Casey Wasserman – founder and CEO of Wasserman Media Group, and the chairman of LA’s Olympic bid – this is exactly why the city will be the perfect host: “We’re the world’s best storytellers, and we create the technology that allows people to see that … And there’s no greater set of stories for 17 days than the Olympic Games.”
Of course, it’s too soon to imagine exactly what sort of technologies will be employed in telling the 2028 story, but one exciting avenue could be augmented and virtual reality. Both AR and VR are becoming increasingly prevalent across a range of diverse industries and, with ten years to push the technology even further forward, they could be used to bring viewers from all over the world into the heart of the Olympics from the comfort of their living rooms, drastically altering the viewers’ relationship with the games.
The crossover between storytelling glamour and technological heights is sure to offer up something special, particularly when applied to the biggest sporting event in the world. Considering how far technology has come on since the 2008 Olympics – when 3G was first introduced and the first iPhone was less than a year old – it’s likely to be in ways that are difficult to fathom right now. But experts are on the case, and all eyes are watching. Meanwhile, LA is the perfect place to apply the latest tech to the games, and whatever happens, they’re sure to make a great story out of it.
