Milano Cortina 2026 has reinvented the Olympic excitement and has seen 15 First-Person View (FPV) drones rocket down the slopes at a 120-kph and skiers like the one who represented Israel, Barnabas Szollos as well as hurtling behind luge pilots who offer earth-shattering views.
Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) data published on Tuesday showed that these buzzing stars have boosted live viewership by 22 per cent since these Games. The bar has been set very high for LA, said Exarchos, CEO of OBS, which produces the entire Games‘ feed delivered to broadcasters around the world.
The statement:
If the destination is a city which is a metropolis of story-telling and one of the greatest metropolises of technology in the world then expectations are very, very big
Exarchos told Reuters in an interview.
This is a nice challenge to have. We need to think about how we can excite people.
With its over 1,300 cameras and 1,800 microphones in Milan (which is projected to go to more than 2,000 cameras in Los Angeles) OBS is experimenting with AI on stopping action, adding statistics, and providing immediate replays of acts like world records.
Tech Leap Analyzed
This boom highlights the dynamic use of AI as the industry in sports technology has seen $12.5 billion. In 2025, the global AI sports market was estimated to be worth $1.22 billion. The market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.94%, from $1.43 billion in 2026 to $5.01 billion by 2034.
NBC’s Leigh Diffey, who is calling sliding events said,
It’s been such an enhancement to the coverage, and to be honest, I did not know that we had that capability. We’ve all been so pleasantly surprised about that extra layer of depth that it gives the broadcast. It’s magnificent.” Diffey said that his social media mentions “have been buzzing with praise for the new technology
Economic Analysis
A study published by the regional business association Assolombarda predicts that Milan’s economy will grow faster in 2026 thanks to a recovery in industry, robust services activity, and the boost from co-hosting the Winter Olympics.
According to the report, Milan, the financial center of Italy, will see 1.7% GDP growth this year compared to 0.7% growth in 2025. In the Milan metropolitan area, the Olympic Games alone are anticipated to produce about 2.5 billion euros in total production, or 1.045 billion euros in value added.
Assolombarda President Alvise Biffi declared,
Milan is going through a positive phase.
Future Outlook
The development of new technologies, as exhibited in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan is expected to continue in the new Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games. Artificial intelligence is set to play a decisive role in personalizing broadcast material allowing viewers to choose camera angles, commentary features, and real-time information overlay.
The immersive technologies, such as high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles and the mixed-reality systems, will continue adding to the experiences of spectators, transforming the Olympic spectacle into a blend of both sports performance and state-of-the art technology.
