Technology company Intel Corperation became worldwide partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday here, boosting the future Olympics with its new innovations and concept of the games.
IOC President Thomas Bach and Intel's CEO Brian Krzanich signed the agreement at the center of Manhattan, as Intel joins "The Olympic Partner (TOP)" program through 2024.
Bach said, "The Olympics enters a digital age as what we could see. One of our goals is to collaborate with our partners and sponsors to shape the Olympic Games into a more immersive way. This is why we have Intel as our long-term partnership."
Intel will bring in new technologies to change sports and fan experience in many ways, which the technology giant calls the "Digitization of Sports". Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G and Drone Innovation are planned to show up at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.
"We are excited to join the Olympic Movement and integrate Intel's innovative technologies to advance the Olympic Games experience for fans around the world," said Krzanich. "Through this close collaboration with the Olympic family, we will accelerate the adoption of technology for the future of sports on the world's largest athletic stage."
Intel's 5G platforms will be used for the first time at PyeongChang Olympics. Intel True VR will provide first live virtual reality broadcast and drone technology will produce light show and firework image in the sky. Intel freeD technology will create 360 replay during the television broadcast.
"In this sense, this partnership with Intel is really a landmark, because it allows us to make a huge step forward in technology field," Bach added.
Intel's technology has been implemented in a number of world's top sports events in recent years, such as NBA All-Star Weekend, Super Bowl, MBL, NCAA and Spanish La Liga, etc.
As a Worldwide TOP Partner, Intel will technologically sponsor the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and the 2024 Olympic Games.
