Broadcast coverage will include 25 cameras distributed around the venues, including to some athletes; Galaxy AI Interpreter will also be deployed

The Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games tonight will be a showcase not only for the world’s greatest athletes but also for new workflows in TV production. Topping the list? The use of 25 Samsung S25 Ultra camera phones to capture more intimate and up-close images. SVG sat down with Sophia Kim, VP/head of experience marketing, MX business, Samsung, to discuss where and how the cameras will be used and the technology deployed.

Samsung’s Sophia Kim says selected athletes will capture video during the Opening Ceremony using Galaxy S25 Ultra phones.

This year’s Opening Ceremony will feature athletes from multiple locations across Italy. Will S25 Ultra cameras be located in Cortina, Livigno, Bormio, etc.?
The Opening Ceremony is one of the most powerful moments shared throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s a moment for the world to come together, regardless of where athletes and viewers are located. Milano Cortina 2026 is uniquely distributed across multiple regions, and Samsung’s approach reflects that. Our role is to help bridge that distance by opening up perspectives that make viewers feel closer to the emotion, energy and creativity of the Opening Ceremony.

Although the Opening Ceremony will be taking place at San Siro Stadium [in Milan], Samsung has worked closely with the IOC and OBS to ensure the Galaxy S25 Ultra is helping capture more intimate and dynamic viewpoints that complement the traditional broadcast coverage. Device placement was determined in collaboration with OBS based on creative intent and logistics. It’s truly about using mobile innovation to help audiences across the globe experience the ceremony in a more immersive way.

Do you know how many S25 cameras will be used?
Samsung is working closely with the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, OBS, and creative team for the Opening Ceremony to leverage 25 Galaxy S25 Ultra devices to capture and share angles that bring audiences closer to the event. We have strategically determined where camera placements would further help bring to life the creative vision and enhance the wider audiences’ viewing experience.nces’ viewing experience.

For Paris 2024, cameras were deployed on the boats to get closer to the parade of nations and the teams. Will athletes have cameras as well?
Within San Siro Stadium, the Galaxy S25 Ultra devices will be positioned alongside established broadcast cameras, including jibs above the field, athlete entrance tunnels, and in the hands of selected athletes and performers, capturing immersive, onsite perspectives wirelessly and in real time without disrupting established broadcast workflows.

An exciting evolution to the integration of Samsung devices within the Opening Ceremony is the use of Galaxy S25 Ultra devices being held by selected athletes and performers to capture close-up views of the ceremony to be fed into the live broadcast. Embedding Galaxy S25 Ultras with athletes and performers further shows that Galaxy users do not need to be professional videographers to capture high-quality, broadcast-ready content. Galaxy technology allows moments to be filmed from inside the action, without placing traditional camera crews in the middle of the live performance.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cameras will capture images at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics Opening Ceremony.

This approach preserves the creativity and sanctity of the ceremony while enhancing the viewer experience. It enables more-authentic, immersive perspectives without interrupting the flow, artistry, or emotional impact of the performance.

In addition to the official broadcast, athletes will bring their Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition devices to capture personal moments throughout the Opening Ceremony.

Will they be transmitting content over Wi-Fi or cellular paths?
Samsung is delivering an end-to-end solution, from capture to transmission to network setup, in partnership with OBS and TIM [Telecom Italia Mobile]. Samsung has worked closely with OBS to test and validate signal stability in advance, ensuring that the transmission paths used meet broadcast standards without disrupting existing workflows. Network-slicing technology will be used to support stable, high-bandwidth livestreaming in a complex live environment, ensuring reliable performance during the Opening Ceremony.

Another piece of Samsung technology that will be used at the Games is “Interpreter.” What role do you see Interpreter playing in the future as everyone becomes more comfortable with using translation powered by Galaxy AI? Where will the volunteers be located in the stadium? Will some of them be embedded with the teams?
Galaxy AI Interpreter plays a practical, behind-the-scenes role throughout the entirety of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and Samsung will support more than 850 volunteers with Galaxy AI–enabled devices across multiple regions and venues.

Samsung Galaxy Ai Interpreter will help Milano Cortina 2026 volunteers more easily connect with fans, athletes, and officials.

These volunteers will use AI Interpreter to help communicate seamlessly across language barriers with athletes, officials, and spectators. By removing language barriers in real time, the technology will help the Winter Games run more smoothly while creating more-welcoming, human interactions. Volunteers using AI Interpreter will be positioned across key operational touchpoints, including venue entrances, athletes services, and spectator-support areas.

The technology is designed to be intuitive and on device, which builds confidence and comfort over time as translation becomes a natural part of daily interactions. Looking ahead, this is just the beginning. As people become more comfortable with AI-powered translation, we see Interpreter evolving into a tool that supports future Olympic and Paralympic Games, becoming a tool that simply works in the background to elevate Games-time experience for all and further forms a way for athletes, fans, and countries to connect by moving past language barriers.

.