What the Olympics can teach us about innovation

The Paris 2024 Olympics are setting a new standard by combining spectacular sports with cutting-edge technology. From AI-driven safety measures to sustainable innovations, this year’s games are relying heavily on cutting-edge technology to ensure safety, accuracy, and entertainment for millions worldwide.

AI: The Real MVP of Paris 2024

AI is stepping up its game at the Olympics, and it's a total game-changer. 

Imagine this: half a billion social media posts during the Games. That’s like every person in Europe posting a comment. To avoid cyber abuse, AI is monitoring these posts and flagging abusive messages – helping protect athletes, and their fans, from online harassment. Plus, AI is whipping up highlight reels in various formats and languages quicker than you can blink, ensuring everyone around the globe gets their Olympic fix.

Athletes are also getting to test-drive a new chat service on the Athlete365 platform – which acts as a ‘virtual coach’ in their pocket, providing support and a friendly ear whenever needed. The platform offers a range of advice and services designed to meet athletes’ current needs and support them at every stage of their journey.

Going green: Olympics style

The Olympics are not just flexing muscles but also flexing some serious sustainable tech. 

 
For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony was not held in a stadium, but took place on the River Seine, with 31 electric parade boats. This electric fleet marks a groundbreaking shift in maritime transport, setting a new standard for sustainability at global events.

And in Marseille, the sailing competitions have featured drone-like buoys to protect the precious seagrass meadows, aka the “lungs of the Mediterranean.” Traditional buoys typically drop anchors that could squish, and damage, this vital plant life – but these new buoys float like pros, protecting the environment while keeping the competition on course.

Broadcast breakthroughs

AI is also shaking up the broadcasting game. Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) is using AI to make everything from storytelling to live coverage more exciting. With the OBS Cloud, all the content flies through the internet, reducing the carbon footprint and making it easier for broadcasters.

Cool AI Tech: OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper, has also employed AI to deliver insightful data, such as intelligent stroboscopic analysis (an intense, high speed light source used to visually analyse objects – or people - in motion) . They’ve used this tool in sports such as diving and gymnastics to break down every twist and turn, helping us better understand the athletes' movements and biomechanics in slow-motion.

What we can learn from the games: E.ON’s tech triumphs

The Olympics are a masterclass in how technology can push the limits of what's possible. As playmakers in the energy field, we’re taking notes and bringing that same innovative spirit to our mission of creating a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future. So, while the athletes are breaking records, we’re breaking new ground in our transition towards greener, cleaner energy. 

Pioneering energy networks: Our innovative ectogrid™ system – currently being developed at Silvertown on London’s Royal Docks, will connect buildings to make the most efficient use of energy, capturing excess heating or cooling and sharing to neighbouring buildings as needed. The system will reduce the demand for energy supplied into its system by up to 75%, significantly cutting carbon emissions into the city air. 

Innovative battery storage: Alongside global investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, we’re investing in the construction of a large-scale battery storage project for the UK – which will have the ability to add extra power into the grid when demand is high or supply falls. The vast system will hold the same amount of energy as about 35 million smartphones! 
 
Transforming cities: We’re decarbonising whole cities with innovative technology – such as our Citigen energy centre in the heart of London – which use the natural warmth of the earth, drawing and storing energy via boreholes 200m below the capital, to heat and cool thousands of businesses and homes across The City. Plus, with our plans to expand our Don Valley heat network across Sheffield (which is currently powered by E.ON’s Blackburn Meadows renewable energy plant), we’re well on our way to creating greener cities with the help of our latest 21st century technology.