Olympic Television Coverage: Golden Rings Awards Celebrate Paris 2024 Broadcasting Excellence

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced the winners of the prestigious 2024 Olympic Golden Rings Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in Olympic Television Coverage. With over 100 submissions from broadcasters worldwide, the awards highlight the exceptional work of Olympic Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) in capturing the spirit and spectacle of the Paris 2024 Games, which captivated over half the world’s population.

Celebrating Innovation in Olympic Television Coverage

The ceremony honored 10 MRHs across 12 categories, showcasing innovation, creativity, and excellence in Olympic broadcasting. These awards underscore the critical role of MRHs in delivering compelling Olympic television coverage to a global audience.

NBCUniversal, the MRH for the United States and future host of the Los Angeles 2028 Games, secured three awards: Best Digital Offer (Web and App), Best Director, and Best Social Media Campaign. This signifies NBCUniversal’s commitment to providing comprehensive and engaging Olympic television coverage across multiple platforms.

France Télévisions received the Best Athlete Profile award and Special Recognition for its significant role in promoting the Paris 2024 Games within France. Their contributions were instrumental in generating excitement and national pride surrounding the event.

Other notable winners included the BBC, CBC/Radio-Canada, CMG Group, Globo, Livemode, Nine Australia, Sky NZ, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The diverse range of winners reflects the global reach and impact of Olympic television coverage.

Unifying the World Through Olympic Broadcasting

IOC President Thomas Bach commended the invaluable role of MRHs in connecting the world through sport and sharing athletes’ inspiring stories. He emphasized the unifying power of the Paris 2024 Games and the exceptional work of broadcasters in conveying the Olympic values and joy of sport to billions of viewers.

Jury chair and Oscar-nominated producer Anant Singh echoed this sentiment, praising the nominees and highlighting the dedication of media rights-holding partners in delivering a world-class product to global audiences. The record number of submissions underscores the growing importance of Olympic television coverage in the media landscape.

Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), emphasized the exceptional creativity and storytelling of the MRHs, highlighting their ability to deepen the connection between the Games and viewers worldwide.

A Showcase of Exceptional Olympic Storytelling

The awards ceremony itself featured a captivating performance by MTB trial world champion Nicolas Fleury, showcasing the dynamism and excitement that are integral to the Olympic spirit.

The full list of 2024 Olympic Golden Rings Awards winners includes:

• Best Athlete Profile: Gold – France Télévisions; Silver – CMG Group; Bronze – Nine Australia

• Best Content to Promote Gender Equality and Inclusion: Gold – Globo; Silver – Livemode; Bronze – CMG Group

• Best Digital Offer (Web and App): Gold – NBCUniversal; Silver – CMG Group; Bronze – WBD

• Best Director: Gold – NBCUniversal; Silver – CBC/Radio-Canada; Bronze – CMG Group

• Best Film: Gold – CBC/Radio-Canada; Silver – France Télévisions; Bronze – BBC

• Best Innovations (AI/Technology): Gold – BBC; Silver – France Télévisions and NBCUniversal

• Best Olympic Programme: Gold – Nine Australia; Silver – Globo; Bronze – BBC

• Best On-Air Promotion: Gold – Globo; Silver – France Télévisions; Bronze – Nine Australia

• Best Remote Broadcast Operations: Gold – WBD; Silver – CMG Group; Bronze – Sky NZ

• Best Remote Studio and Presentation: Gold – WBD; Silver – Globo; Bronze – NBCUniversal

• Best Social Media Campaign: Gold – NBCUniversal; Silver – CBC/Radio-Canada; Bronze – Sky NZ

• Best Host Production Team: OBS – Athletics

• Special Recognition by the Jury: France Télévisions – Olympic Ceremonies broadcast team

Record-Breaking Content and Unprecedented Access

OBS produced an unprecedented 11,000 hours of content for Paris 2024, exceeding all previous Games. This enabled MRHs to deliver unparalleled Olympic television coverage across various platforms, offering viewers deeper engagement and interactive experiences.

The Future of Olympic Television Coverage

Paris 2024 marked a significant shift towards athlete-centric storytelling and the integration of AI-driven technologies. The Golden Rings Awards recognize the broadcasters who are leading this evolution, ensuring that Olympic television coverage continues to captivate and inspire audiences worldwide. The awards solidify the importance of quality Olympic broadcasting and pave the way for even more innovative and engaging coverage in future Games.