Goodbye McDonald’s, hello Intel. An American giant slams the door, another arrives through the air. The IOC formalized, Wednesday June 21 in New York, the arrival of the Californian brand among the elite of its Olympic sponsors. The world number 1 in microprocessors becomes the 13th member of the TOP program. It replaces the fast-food chain. In terms of image, the IOC is not a loser. It replaces junk food with drones, 5G and virtual reality. A good deal.
The signing of the partnership between Intel and the IOC took place in New York, in the early morning American time, in the presence of Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, and Brian Krzanich, the president and CEO of Intel. The German leader was the guest, only the guest. The Americans were in action. They amazed the media, present on site at the press conference, or invited to follow the event via webcast.
A show of strength from a partner determined, to the great joy of Thomas Bach and the entire IOC, to “transform the Olympic Games and experience”. Just that. According to everyone, there should be a before and after Intel. The German promised: “Under this new global partnership with Intel, fans in stadiums, athletes and audiences from all corners of the world will soon be able to experience the magic of the Olympic Games in a completely new way. »
How? Brian Krzanich and his joyful colony of geeks delivered a preview on Wednesday in New York, between two virtual reality videos. First answer: 5G. With Intel, she will enter the Games with the air of owner of the place. Starting in 2018, Intel’s 5G platforms will be deployed at the Winter Games in PyeongChang, “paving the way for a global deployment of this new technology. » Big.
Another marvel: Intel TrueVR. The future, it seems. The PyeongChang Games will serve as a giant laboratory for innovation meant to allow fans to “immerse themselves in the Games from home.” No more braving the cold and standing around in a finish area, watching for a skier by tapping your foot on the frozen ground, Intel brings the Games in TrueVR to the home, on the sofa. Class.
Even better: drones. One of Intel's specialties. At the next Games, the American brand has promised to deploy a whole squadron of them to create “an unprecedented light show in the sky”.
Finally, Intel's Replay 360 technology will allow fans to "experience the best moments of the Games from any angle at the Olympic venues." Viewers will be able to experience the events from home, choosing a front-row seat or different vantage points at the competition venues.
Almost useless clarification: the amount of the contract has not been disclosed. It never is in the cozy world of the Olympics. But it would reach at least $200 million, the usual entry ticket for the TOP program. The partnership between the IOC and the American brand begins with immediate effect and will extend until the 2024 Games. Intel will therefore be able to deploy its battery of new technological developments at the Games in PyeongChang in 2018, Tokyo in 2020, Beijing in 2022, then finally Los Angeles or Paris in 2024. In terms of market, the catalog does not lack interest.
