“Newbie Games”, no less. The Olympic Committee has set a very high bar for the organization of Paris 2024. The opening ceremony, which will take place on the River Seine, perfectly illustrates this ambition. But behind the scenes, the challenge ahead is considerable.
For Orange, the event’s only telecom partner, it’s Everest. First, because only the incumbent has partnered with the Paris 2024 organizing committee, compared to the five telecom operators for the 2021 Tokyo Games. Orange is therefore responsible for providing all communications during the Olympic Games and then the Paralympic Games. Two matches that should bring together 4 billion viewers, 10 million visitors, including 20,000 journalists, and for which 40 sites have been chosen to host the competitions.
A total of 120 locations, from stadiums to train stations, including Marseille sailing and Tahiti for surfing events, will be connected. All this obviously has a cost that Orange does not officially measure. The account should rise to one hundred million euros.
A technological puzzle
The only opening ceremony is a technological puzzle: 170 boats, a 6 km “parade” of athletes on the river Seine, a hundred connected cameras… we have to ensure the connection on 4G/5G during the entire course or length.”including under bridgesjokes Orange CEO Christel Heidemann.
For this, Orange will rely on existing fixed and mobile networks, which will be strengthened by special measures, in particular the deployment of around thirty temporary mobile antennas accompanying the Tour de France. Most of the equipment that will be installedare built to last and will stay game after game“, assures Christel Heidemann. A small portion can be reused for other activities or will be picked up by telecommunications equipment.
These Games are also designed for simplicity. traditional walkie-talkies used by organizers and security services will be replaced by a special smartphone application. This technology, called push-to-talk, is made possible by 5G. Likewise, images that will be broadcast over 5G will benefit from 4K definition and a latency of less than 100 milliseconds. Therefore, there will be no delay between the live broadcast and the broadcast on the screens. “Timings, results display, speeches… everything will be connected“, adds Bruno Marie-Rose, Technical Director of Paris 2024.
For the operator, the Games are an opportunity to mobilize internal teams and unite around a common project. Orange also wants to open up the event to as many people as possible by sponsoring the Marathon pour tous, a race open to amateurs that will be held on the same course and under the same conditions as the Olympic marathon.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.