22 March 2024 - Following the success of the initial briefing held in Milan last year, Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) convened in Cortina d'Ampezzo this week for the OBS World Broadcaster Meeting (WBM) for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The WBM was attended by more than 200 participants from across the world, including 108 MRH personnel, representing a total of 28 organisations; representatives from local municipalities; the International Olympic Committee; the International Paralympic Committee; the Italian National Olympic Committee; and Worldwide Olympic Partner Alibaba.
With less than two years to go until the Games, this second meeting proved an invaluable opportunity for face-to-face interactions, site visits to the mountain venues, and in-depth discussions on the ongoing progress and operational plans for the broadcast of the Games.
Cortina: breathtaking, majestic mountains guaranteed to mesmerise audiences worldwide
On 18 March, the MRHs visited several venues within the Cortina cluster. For many, this is a familiar region, renowned for its sports venues that have hosted countless World Championships and World Cups. The use of these world-class facilities underlines Milano Cortina 2026's commitment to the principles outlined in the Olympic Agenda 2020, which emphasises the use of existing venues and expertise.
The venue tour began at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena, considered one of the world’s leading biathlon arenas. The broadcasters then moved on to the Cortina Olympic Stadium, which hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1956 Olympic Games. This historic landmark will host the curling and wheelchair curling events for Milano Cortina 2026.
Later in the afternoon, the MRHs journeyed past the Cortina Sliding Centre, where new construction is underway on the original 1956 site, ready for the venue to be used again for the sliding sports events.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Tofane Alpine Centre, another legacy venue from the 1956 Games. Since 1993, it has been the host of the women's alpine skiing World Cup, and it is now primed to welcome the women's alpine skiing, para skiing and para snowboarding events for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Games.
Innovative production and technical plans
On 19 March, the MRHs attended the Main Session of the WBM. OBS Chief Executive Officer Yiannis Exarchos offered a warm welcome to the assembled broadcasters. He said: "There is no doubt that Northern Italy is one of the destinations and birthplaces of winter sports in our minds. When we think of winter sports, locations like Cortina come to mind, so this is a given for the Olympics. It is a special place because the Olympic Winter Games are returning to previous hosts. Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the Games back in 1956, followed by Turin in 2006.”
“These are the first Olympic Winter Games with two co-host cities, Milan and Cortina, but beyond that they extend to the whole of the north of Italy, and are also an incredible demonstration of collaboration between the different regions and a dedicated and passionate Organising Committee.”
Throughout the day-long session, OBS provided broadcasters with comprehensive updates on its coverage plan, which will aim to highlight the inspiring stories and achievements of the world's top winter athletes. Emphasis will also be placed on capturing the essence of the historic Cortina 1956 Games and showcasing the scenic beauty of the northern Italian regions.
In addition to these updates, OBS unveiled a range of innovative solutions designed to help MRHs enrich their coverage across multiple platforms and deliver this as seamlessly as possible, regardless of where broadcasters decide to set up their production base.
Remote production and cloud technologies will play an increased role in the broadcast operations of Milano Cortina 2026, given the wide distribution of the venues. Further adoption of the cloud will not only reduce space and power requirements, but will also enable broadcasters to share even more content, especially on digital platforms, generating even more exposure for the Games.
In addition, more multi-camera replay systems and first-person view drone footage are set to enrich the multilateral coverage, providing fresh perspectives and enhancing the viewing experience.
Progress on gender equality in Olympic broadcasting
During the WBM, OBS took the opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue with MRHs regarding its commitment to gender equality, both in front of and behind the camera.
During this exchange, OBS elaborated on its ongoing initiatives geared towards fostering gender equality, drawing insights from its experiences and progress made leading up to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
MRHs were also encouraged to share their own progress and adherence to the IOC Portrayal Guidelines, fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge exchange.
More information about the WBM can be found here: OBS.tv.
Summary by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
