The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are not limited to bringing together athletes with remarkable sporting performances; they also make it possible to highlight the most advanced technologies and the most innovative practices. This major global event offers an unprecedented platform for large companies to highlight their skills, while offering start-ups and SMEs the opportunity to present their innovative solutions. Here is an overview of the main innovations that are turning this event into a true showcase of technological and ecological progress.
Mobility
At the dawn of this 33rd edition, Paris is preparing to manage a massive influx of visitors from all over the world. To meet this major challenge, the city is implementing several major innovations in the transport sector, aimed at guaranteeing smooth and efficient travel across its 25 competition sites.
Paris airports, essential crossing points for international travelers, have adopted cutting-edge 3D scanners for cabin baggage. These devices, installed in Paris-Orly and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle, make it possible to visualize the contents of suitcases in three dimensions, without requiring passengers to remove their liquids or electronic devices. By using sophisticated algorithms, these scanners improve the accuracy of controls while reducing passenger preparation time by 30%, thus facilitating faster and more efficient passage through security checks.
Innovation doesn't stop there. The electric flying taxi Volocity, designed by the German manufacturer Volocopter, represents a spectacular advance in urban mobility. This aerial vehicle promises to cross Paris in a few minutes. However, regulatory and environmental challenges limit its full commissioning, with only two flying taxis potentially operational during the Games if standards are met.
The waterways of Paris will not be outdone with the start-up's electric-powered vessels. NepTech. These boats, capable of transporting up to 200 people on the Seine, stand out for their use of hydrogen solutions developed by EODev. Although these shuttles will not be ready for summer 2024, they illustrate a promising ecological alternative to reduce congestion in land transport networks.
The start-up UrbanLoop, for its part, has designed an autonomous driverless capsule, planned to be tested in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. This electric capsule, capable of carrying two passengers, will connect the Olympic velodrome to the Montigny-le-Bretonneux nautical base. By setting a world record for the lowest energy consumption per kilometer, UrbanLoop demonstrates a significant advance towards sustainable urban mobility.
Since its launch in 2015 at COP21, Hype has established itself as a pioneer in the field of zero emission mobility and plays a key role in the transition to ecological mobility solutions. Taxis account for a significant portion of polluting emissions, and Hype is working to reduce this impact with its hydrogen-powered vehicles. The company plans to have more than 1,500 hydrogen-powered taxis in Paris for the Games, illustrating its commitment to sustainable mobility. The company is working with the Stellantis group to adapt vans into zero-emission taxis for people with reduced mobility. In parallel, Hype is building a network of green hydrogen production and distribution stations, supported by partners such as Enertrag, to promote the emergence of other forms of hydrogen mobility.
Always in an effort to improve the ease of access to the Games, OMNI, a French start-up, presented an innovative transport solution to easily move around Paris in a wheelchair. A special attachment makes it possible to attach an electric scooter to a wheelchair, thus simplifying the mobility of people with reduced mobility. Thanks to this assistive technology, the Olympic Games are accessible to everyone, regardless of physical ability.
Sustainable development
The initiative of the aeropilters, installed on the square of Athletes' Village, aroused mixed reactions. These devices, intended to offer a “clean air shower” to athletes, use patented technology capable of capturing polluting fine particles from the air. Despite initial skepticism, initial tests showed promising results, capturing up to 95% of PM2.5 and PM10. However, the true effectiveness of these filters will be better evaluated during the Olympic Games, where their performance will be tested in real and dynamic conditions.
In addition to outdoor aerophilters, an indoor air treatment system will be set up in athletes' homes. Developed by Aldes and using e-filtration technology from Teqoya, this system will be able to filter a wide variety of suspended particles, thus helping to create a healthy environment for athletes.
The Paris 2024 Olympics will also serve as a laboratory for sustainable development, in particular with innovative projects around wastewater recycling. These initiatives go beyond current regulations and offer promising solutions for the future.
One of the most ambitious projects is the construction of a “cycle” building that treats wastewater in four distinct streams: greywater, biowaste, urine and faeces. This building, designed by the design office Oasiis with the support ofIcade and CDC Habitat, will incorporate advanced treatment technologies to reuse greywater for non-domestic uses, while valorizing urine and faeces for agriculture and composting.
The rescue center, located on the banks of the Seine, will treat its greywater by phyto-purification through roof vegetation. This ecological process, which includes pre-treatment, filtration and disinfection, will allow the retreated water to be used for the irrigation of green areas and the cleaning of outdoor floors.
The project Green Bow, for its part, will consist of pumping wastewater from the underground network of the Athletes' Village to treat it and use it in watering green spaces. This innovative approach underlines the commitment of Paris 2024 to the sustainable management of water resources.
Circular economy
One of the key ambitions of Paris 2024 is to guarantee a second life for all its equipment. The organization is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to the London 2012 Olympics and to adopting a circular economy strategy for the equipment required for the event.
Paris 2024 has designed its infrastructures to guarantee a Second life to the equipment after the Games. The use of existing or temporary infrastructures has reduced furniture needs by 25%, while the rental of sports and electronic equipment helps to minimize waste. The organization also plans to reuse or recycle 90% of products and equipment, with a focus on the reduction and reuse of materials.
Equipment such as the cardboard or recycled plastic furniture and temporary “kit” structures illustrate this circular approach. These structures, designed to be dismantled and reused, demonstrate a commitment to sustainability that will mark a turning point in the way major international events are organized.
Use of drones on a larger scale
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will mark an important step in the use of drones for the management of global events. The use of these technologies will not only make it possible to monitor crowd movements, but also to ensure increased safety and unprecedented media coverage.
Drones will be used to monitor competition areas, detect transport bottlenecks, and spot suspicious behavior, although facial recognition remains prohibited. This technology, combined with artificial intelligence, will make it possible to analyze huge volumes of data in real time to optimize the management of spectator flows and the safety of sites.
Despite concerns about individual freedoms, current regulations allow for experimentation with the use of drones for the surveillance of public order until June 2025. This initiative testifies to significant advances in the technological management of events, while dealing with the challenges associated with the security of the drones themselves, in particular the risks of coordinated attacks.
Drones will not only manage security; they will also play a crucial role in broadcasting sports events. By offering new perspectives thanks to their flight capabilities, these devices will allow spectators to follow competitions from angles impossible to obtain with traditional cameras, thus enriching the television and virtual reality experience.
Still linked to the television experience, a platform developed by Intel will be used to improve the viewers' experience through artificial intelligence. Athletes will be automatically followed by AI-powered cameras, offering unique angles of view and impressive slow motion. Thanks to AI, it will also be possible to improve the personalization of broadcast content by adjusting video streams based on viewers' individual preferences. This personalization promises a unique and immersive experience for each viewer.
Some events will be broadcast in 8K resolution for the first time in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Thanks to Intel Xeon processors, this innovation offers remarkable visual immersion to viewers around the world. Broadcast in 8K will transform the way viewers experience competitions from home, offering unprecedented image quality.
AI, connectivity, security, and optimized organization
intel allowed the establishment of a private 5G network specially designed for the Games. Thanks to 5G antennas installed on various competition sites, this network ensures ultra-fast and reliable connectivity, essential for broadcasting high-definition videos in real time with a latency close to zero. The broadcasting of sports events will be revolutionized thanks to 5G, which will ensure smooth communication between the various Olympic infrastructures and management systems.
The technological management of the Olympic Games is mainly based on the Technology Operations Center (TOC), managed by Atos. This center, located in Seine-Saint-Denis, manages all technologies, including fully digital ticketing and the distribution of data related to the results of competitions. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and respond to threats in real time, advanced cybersecurity ensures a secure environment for all participants and spectators.
In order to optimize communication and organization, traditional walkie-talkies have been replaced by a “push to talk” mobile application. Teams can communicate quickly and effectively, making the coordination of operations more fluid and responsive.
In conclusion
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are thus establishing themselves as a pivotal event not only for sport, but also for the demonstration of innovative technologies and solutions in various fields. From mobility to the management of air and water resources, including the reuse of equipment, Paris 2024 could well become a model and catalyst for positive and lasting changes in the way we organize and experience major international events.
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