Winter Olympics embrace gold-standard tech

The only thing moving faster than Olympic bobsleds this year? The tech behind the cameras.

If you’ve tuned in, you’ve probably spotted new high-tech drones zipping just feet behind the high speed athletes.

While drones have appeared at past Games, this year’s models deliver 360-degree, real-time replays that place viewers in the athlete’s POV while safe at home on their couch.

How it works: Skilled pilots, often former athletes with deep knowledge of the sport, control the lightweight drones using VR goggles that show exactly what the flying machine sees.

The drones can reach speeds of up to 75 mph while maintaining broadcast quality and flying safely behind competitors—never in front or above.

Drones are just the start

Other advanced new tech has also debuted at the Milano Cortina Winter Games:

• Getty Images introduced infrared and thermal cameras to highlight heat signatures in the cold Italian mountains.
• NBCUniversal launched a new AI-powered Olympic guide that provides real-time info on results, sport regulations, and any other questions about the Games.
• Omega’s new AI-powered cameras—which can track figure skaters’ movements down to the millimeter—are helping judges determine whether skaters successfully land their lightning-fast moves.

Looking ahead: The 2026 Olympic Winter Games officially wrap up this Sunday, with the closing ceremony set for 1:30 pm CT.