The other day, I was trying to remember if I’ve ever missed an Olympic broadcast. Since I was old enough to watch television, the Olympics have been one of my favorite sporting events. I recall being mortified when the Summer and Winter Olympics were split and I couldn’t get a whole year’s worth.
These days, the logic in splitting them is apparent: fans like me get more bang for our buck, and the countries that host and companies that sponsor earn more. At the same time, true sports fans like us still love the visceral thrill of watching our favorite swimmers and our favorite sprinters break new records. It’s still all about the sports.
Yet some of us love the enhancements technology brings to our sports. I still keep up with the Timbers and all my MLB teams via smartphone apps. Now, I’ll be able to enjoy the 2016 Rio Olympics with a touch of virtual reality, among other new technologies.
Funding the Journey
Participating in sports at the elite level is often a family affair. It is also an expensive affair for those families who have devoted their lives to supporting their high-level athletes. The road to the Olympics is one of the costliest endeavors for any athlete, let alone her family members who want to be there to support her.
Crowdfunding has been an acceptable and lucrative business practice for a number of years. It has now gone the way of funding the competitive dreams of a number of elite athletes in the form of Dreamfuel. With Rio fast approaching, Dreamfuel is taking its crowdfunding up a notch and making its technology available to the families of Olympic athletes in order to raise funds for travel to Rio.
Once athletes arrive in Rio, they will be able to pay for goods and services with a ring created by Visa. All 45 Visa-sponsored athletes will receive the new technology, which is water-resistant enough to allow many water sport athletes to wear it during practices.
Highlights in 4D and More
NBC is upping the ante on its Olympics broadcast this year, promising more than 6700 hours of coverage across multiple networks. During the two weeks of Olympic competition, NBC’s main network will be airing Olympic sports nearly 24 hours a day.
The biggest broadcast innovation of this year is the virtual reality highlights that will be shown on a one-day delay. If you have verified Samsung VR tech, you’ll be able to watch the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as sports like track and field, where many Pacific Northwest athletes excel.
If you’re getting the chance to travel to Rio for the Games or you don’t have access to TV, like me, there are many great apps. Since I got my first smartphone, I’ve added the official Olympics app to keep track of scores and my favorite athletes, national and otherwise. However, there are so many supplemental greats out there, like BBC’s sports coverage and guides to athletes. Take the OSN techie route and try a handful before settling on a favorite few.
All That Gear
Olympics talk wouldn’t be complete without an overview of the new gear and tech released by companies like Oregon-based Nike. Official outfitter of the U.S. team, the sportswear giant always introduces a bevy of new gear tech right before a Games.
One innovation of many for the Rio Games is the new kit worn by the US Women’s National Team. The soccer champs will be wearing breathable fabric that actually expands and contracts with the motion of the athletes in order to improve ventilation.
Even sunglasses for track and field athletes are getting a tech upgrade. Fans, too, get upgrades on their gear. You can order a replica of the USWMNT’s new jersey, or even the Ralph Lauren fashions worn during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Even with all the fears and controversies surrounding the Rio 2016 Games, I’m still looking forward to them this year. I will always look forward to the Olympics, and the constant tech innovations only make them that more exciting.
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