The 2024 Paris Olympics came to an end recently, with Chinese athletes demonstrating remarkable resilience and securing top positions on the medal table. Simultaneously, "Made in China" and Chinese brands have also made their way to Paris, fueling the Olympic economy. Both inside and outside the venues, they showcased a perfect blend of technology and romance, presenting the world with a dazzling "Chinese symbol".
Technology enhances service and support
It's hard to capture fleeting moments of the competition with the naked eyes, but it's possible through cloud broadcasting. "Cloud broadcasting can bring cinematic special effects into sports broadcasts, such as high-freedom viewing angles similar to 'bullet time', allowing ultra-slow-motion and panoramic views to unfold before global audiences," said a representative from Alibaba Cloud. Alibaba Cloud has deployed AI-enhanced technology in 14 venues and introduced a multi-camera replay system, achieving "space-time freeze".
Along the banks of the Seine River in Paris, more than 50 LED screens were installed in key areas such as the Bercy Arena and City Hall Square to provide real-time displays, live broadcasts, and information services for spectators. These LED screens, all "Made in Shenzhen" were produced by Absen, a national intellectual property advantage enterprise. Absen has been deeply involved in the LED display industry for many years, focusing on research and innovation in cutting-edge technologies and striving to enhance its capabilities in IP creation, utilization, protection, and management. As of March this year, Absen had submitted over 900 IP applications, including more than 190 for invention patents.
Brand power: Chinese companies shine
During the Paris Olympics, Chinese brands were making their mark in another arena. From table tennis balls to judo mats and sports flooring, "Made in China" products were shining brightly at the Olympics, a vivid testament to the global impact of Chinese brands.
As the exclusive supplier of sports flooring for the table tennis events, Hebei Enlio Sports Goods Co., Ltd. showcased its "hard power" in material technology. The company has secured one invention patent, four utility model patents, and five design patents for its SES rubber elastic flooring. "Our flooring offers better slip resistance, and is softer, more elastic, and more stable underfoot. It is easier to install and maintain and also recyclable, which is a key factor in our brand standing out," said Li Xiaodong, the company's brand promotion manager.
With a chip precise within 10 millimeters long, seamless data collection and 5G connectivity are possible. This technology is used in the judo and wrestling mats at the Paris Olympics, provided by Shandong Taishan Sports Industry Group Co., Ltd. "For the first time, Taishan Sports has incorporated smart chip technology into wrestling and judo mats, enabling real-time collection of force, speed, and positional data during athletic activities. This provides more precise data support for training and competitions, making it much easier to assess and guide training," said Song Kun, the company's brand director. The cushioning layer in the mats features a gradient energy absorption design with proprietary IP, which protects athletes while also aiding in their performance. Currently, Taishan Sports holds nine invention patents, 71 utility model patents, and 22 design patents related to judo mats.
Copyright operations: enjoy spectacular games
A series of copyright management and protection measures demonstrate China's commitment to strengthening the protection of broadcasting rights for sports events and maintaining order in the sports broadcasting market, safeguarding the exciting Olympic events. On July 23, as the Paris Olympics were about to commence, China Media Group (CMG) issued a statement on the protection of Olympic broadcasting rights. CMG, authorized by the International Olympic Committee, holds the exclusive media rights for the Olympics in China and has sublicensed these rights to China Mobile Migu, Douyin, Kuaishou, and Tencent as official broadcasters. According to the authorization, China Mobile Migu is entitled to provide live broadcasts, delayed broadcasts, video-on-demand, and short video coverage of the Paris Olympics, while Douyin, Kuaishou, and Tencent are authorized to provide video-on-demand and short video coverage.
Notably, this is the first time the Olympics have been broadcast on the big screen in China. Starting July 27, CMG's Paris Olympics television programs were broadcast live in over 800 qualified cinemas across China, allowing audiences to enjoy the excitement of the games on the big screen. Yan Xiaohong, Chairman of the China Copyright Association, stated that on this globally-watched platform, copyright protection is of paramount importance. Through copyright trade, a healthy copyright ecosystem can be established, not only promoting the development of the sports industry, but also fostering international cooperation and exchange.
From "Made in China" to "Created in China", Chinese brands have met the Olympics at the pinnacle, demonstrating the exceptional strength of Chinese enterprises in product, technology, and brand export. With the backing of technology and strong branding, Team China has achieved even greater success at the Paris Olympics.