With the countdown on to the start of Tokyo 2020 on 23rd July, the organising committee of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games have announced plans to use 5G and augmented reality to help enhance the viewing experience for spectators.
They will include broadcasts of UHD videos, as well as simultaneous multipoint videos for fans as the venues for sailing, swimming and golf.
Tokyo 2020 is working with NHK and the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association, as well as Intel Corporation, NTT and NTT DOCOMO.
At the sailing venue at Enoshima Yacht Harbour, organisers will use 5G to broadcast 12K video on a 50 metre screen floating on the water. A similar broadcast will be provided simultaneously at the Games’ main press centre for journalists.
5G and augmented reality will also be in play at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, where spectators will be given wearable AR devices which will display detailed race information during events. Data will be transmitted to the AR devices and spectators via 5G.
Meanwhile at the Tokyo 2020 golf venue, the city’s 5G technology is being employed to enable spectators to individually select and watch live videos of the action at multiple locations on devices they can rent when they arrive at the location.
