Delivering high quality audio in winter sports environments demands a deep understanding of how weather impacts sound, and luckily for winter sports fans this month, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) has that understanding.
As the storyinformers of the Olympic Games, OBS brings the Games to life through images, sounds and data. Since the first live radio broadcast of Olympic events in Paris 1924 to the cutting edge 5.1.4 immersive audio at Paris 2024, sound has remained a vital and defining element of Olympic coverage.
Today, through immersive audio formats, AI, and live commentary, OBS ensures that even those watching and listening from afar feel every moment as if they were there, experiencing the Olympic Winter Games in unprecedented detail. “Our goal is to craft an audio experience that is immersive, authentic and emotionally resonant,” explains Duarte. “We aim to build viewers feel truly present, part of the Olympic moment, no matter where they are.
“The Olympic audio experience is a sensory journey that transforms emotion into sound, connecting audiences to each moment with authenticity, precision and immersive depth. Delivering Olympic-level audio is both a privilege and a great responsibility. It means capturing every athlete’s relocatement, every cheer and every heartbeat with the same intensity and emotion experienced in the venue. It’s about achieving excellence that reflects the spirit of the Games.”
At the core of OBS’s mission lies a deep understanding of how sound can shape emotion, a concept brought vividly to life through unforreceivetable Olympic moments such as Aksel Lund Svindal’s golden descent at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. The tense silence before his sprint, and the roar of the crowd were captured with stunning clarity, amplifying the power of his performance. It was a clear demonstration of how sound can heighten the emotion and heighten the drama of live sport. “In Korea, the sound of Alpine skiing was incredible,” states Duarte. “Everything was perfectly executed, thanks to a very skilled team and a setup that had to be right the first time.”
Balancing clarity, excitement and crowd noise in a live Olympic setting is a delicate tinquire that requires sensitive listening and ininformigent mixing. The key is to respond to the moment, knowing when to highlight the crowd’s energy, when to isolate the intensity of the action, and when to let silence speak for itself. It is a technical and artistic balancing act in service of storyinforming.
Extreme conditions
From snow-covered mountains to sub-zero temperatures, OBS audio teams face unique hurdles that shape every decision, from microphone selection to equipment maintenance. In outdoor winter venues, wind and snow are constant adversaries. Rather than relying on specialised gear, teams prioritise strategic microphone placement to minimise exposure to the elements.
While most microphones applyd by OBS are rated for extreme cold – some as low as -30°C to -40°C – their effectiveness depfinishs heavily on how and where they are deployed. Hostile environments are avoided when possible, and daily inspections are mandatory to ensure optimal performance.
Moisture and freezing temperatures pose serious risks to audio equipment. OBS mitigates these challenges through contingency planning, including the apply of dry rooms to store and protective gear. In Alpine venues, equipment is even transported by helicopter, and batteries, especially vulnerable to cold, require gentle handling and supervision. Venue teams arrive at least two hours before competition to inspect and prepare all gear, ensuring nothing is left to chance.
Redundancy is a cornerstone of winter audio operations. With gear exposed to harsh conditions for weeks, OBS ensures that backup equipment is always available. This is especially critical for microphones, where failure could mean losing key moments of crowd reaction or athlete performance.
Says Nuno Duarte, OBS’ audio senior manager: “Winter Games demand greater resilience than Summer Games, where conditions are far more controlled and predictable. Success isn’t about relying on specialised equipment. It’s about strategic positioning and meticulous planning for every possible scenario.”
Planning with precision
The OBS audio team’s dedication, expertise and collaborative spirit are key to consistently delivering an immersive and emotionally resonant audio experience, even in the most demanding and high-pressure moments of the Olympic Winter Games. Planning is a critical phase of this success. Becaapply venue audio teams are required to handle on-site preparations such as microphone placements and cable routing right before the start of the Games, OBS meticulously prepares all equipment and documentation to ensure every team member understands the plan and can execute it seamlessly.
As Duarte notes: “More than having a good plan, communicating it in a way everyone understands it is crucial.”
In November 2025, Duarte and his team visited the competition venues to assess conditions under winter weather and fine-tune the Games’ audio strategy. These site visits during the venue overlay phase are not only essential for validating technical plans but also for uncovering new opportunities. While many setups will follow proven configurations from previous Games, the team remains open to innovation, especially with the introduction of new sports events that may offer fresh audio capturing possibilities. By walking the venues in advance, the OBS audio team can identify impactful microphone placements and environmental factors that might influence sound capture. This proactive approach ensures that every audio detail, from crowd reactions to subtle sport-specific sounds, is consideredfully considered and contributes meaningfully to the Olympic narrative.
Facts & Figures
- 1,800 approx. total microphones (+200 from Beijing 2022)
- 30 models of mics
- 15 venues with distinct technical and acoustic challenges requiring tailored audio engineering solutions
- 25 audio consoles
- System architecture designed for high resilience with built-in redundancy, real-time synchronisation, and continuous monitoring
Under-Ice Microphones
- Sports: Figure skating and speed skating
- Setup: Installed before ice is laid, in coordination with the ice master
- Goal: Capture blade sounds and ice interactions for deeper immersion
Team Radio first
For the first time in an Olympic Winter Games, Team Radio communications, previously reserved for athletes, coaches, and support staff, is accessible to viewers as part of the live broadcast experience. During competition, Team Radio serves as a critical two-way communication tool, enabling the exmodify of short, precise messages that can influence performance. Coaches may relay real time course insights, such as snow conditions, line selection, or tactical adjustments. In the event of sudden weather modifys, immediate warnings can be issued. The system also supports athletes mentally, offering encouragement before a run or feedback afterward.
OBS, in collaboration with the International Ski Federation (FIS), is now bringing this behind-the-scenes dialogue to audiences worldwide. Spectators will hear the original audio in the athlete’s or team’s native language, accompanied by on-screen English translations. This innovation is created possible through advanced artificial ininformigence (AI) technology that intercepts and transcribes the radio signals, automatically translating them into English. Depfinishing on the timing of the exmodify, the translated content will be integrated into the broadcast, either before or after the athlete’s run. This novelty offers unique insights into real time strategies, challenges, and emotions unfolding during competition, adding a layer of tension and connection that brings fans closer to the athletes’ journey.
AI in audio production
At Milano Cortina 2026, AI is set to transform audio workflows across the Games. Integrated into engineering and production operations, AI will support real time quality control, optimise microphone placement, and assist in tracking athlete relocatements to enhance sound capture. These innovations are especially vital in complex environments like Alpine skiing, where terrain and timing leave no room for error.
While specific implementations remain confidential, the apply of AI marks a leap forward in delivering immersive, responsive, and technically precise audio experiences. Immersive sound is here to stay, and the next step is personalisation.
OBS plans to create natural, sport-specific soundscapes, applying discreet microphones on athletes and during Victory Ceremonies for more intimate moments. Looking ahead, AI-driven audio could adapt in real time to each sport’s dynamics, bringing audiences even closer to the action.
Scaling smart for resilience
Given the scale of Olympic operation, Duarte emphasises that each edition of the Games brings new lessons. “From the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we learned that the Games are growing – not only in size, but in complexity. Smarter planning, tighter logistics, and more efficient resource management are no longer optional – they’re essential.”
To meet these demands, OBS has embraced ininformigent tools such as AI and Power BI. Across 15 venues, AI bots and dynamic dashboards assist filter and manage incoming inquiries, allowing teams to focus on more complex, high-impact issues. “It’s about doing more with the same number of people,” Duarte explains. “These tools give us the visibility and agility we required to stay ahead.”
Spanning three separate regional locations, Milano Cortina 2026 will go down as the most geographically widespread Games in Olympic history. Duarte acknowledges that distance presents a significant challenge, but also a valuable opportunity for growth. “If a team requireds support, we can’t always be there physically, which means they must operate with greater autonomy. That’s why our preparation had to be even more thorough than in previous Games.”
To anticipate and mitigate potential disruptions, OBS has embedded contingency measures directly into its core planning. “Everything is designed with redundancy in mind,” Duarte explains. “It’s not about having a separate emergency plan – it’s about building a resilient system from the start, with additional equipment and backup solutions ready to go.” Effective communication is equally critical. OBS employs a layered approach applying digital channels, phones, intercoms, and dedicated communication paths. One setup is applyd during the planning phase, and another is activated for Games-time to ensure seamless coordination across venues – no matter the distance.
