Do you know how much The Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal weighs? Or the diameter?
Maybe you know the name of the most successful British Olympian?
(Answers at the foot of this article)
The Olympic Games have always been a showcase of athletic excellence, but in recent years, data and technology have become increasingly important in improving the experience for athletes and viewers. The 2024 Paris Olympics are no exception, with innovative applications of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) across various aspects of the Games.
What can we learn from what we see and read to help inform how we present our own insights and data?
The BBC presents a visual guide to the Olympics using annotated photographs, diagrams and stories including a timeline showing women’s participation throughout the years.
We found many innovative ideas from Flourish Studio. Their blog explores the evolution, achievements, and highlights of the Winter and Summer Olympics through data visualisation. We particularly like the comparison of different ways to display the medal table: using basic charts and pictograms. These examples link through to their own templates (free for charities)
The International Olympics Committee always wishes to create a sustainable social legacy in the host country. Their report with simple infographics shows how they reached 3 million young people and over 8700 schools have been awarded the Generation 2024 label.
Data at The Olympics is provided in a quick burst, as opposed to over a season in many other sports. Data Analytics show how data is used across platforms, including on television, to support the environment and to improve athlete performance.
Ultimately, personal stories are what brings sporting achievement to life. We’re sure you have your favourites but a couple of ours are Lola Anderson’s lost diary and Adam Peaty’s ‘happy tears’.
The 2024 Paris Olympics demonstrate how data and analytics play a pivotal role in safeguarding athletes, improving planning efficiency, and enhancing storytelling.
Have you seen any outstanding use of data around Paris 2024? Let us know! hello@bucksdataexchange.org
Question answers:
- 529g
- 8.5cm
- Sir Jason Kenny, track cycling. 9 medals.
