Discovery brings unparalleled scale and new cinematic vision to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics coverage

As the Home of the Olympics in Europe, Discovery has announced plan that will push the physical and virtual boundaries of sports production to new extremes and mark a new frontier in the coverage of the Olympic Games.

With over a week to go until the Opening Ceremony of Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, Discovery has revealed how the unprecedented scale of its operation, most ambitious innovations and in-depth storytelling will help deliver its objective to unlock the power of the Olympics for audiences across Europe*. Viewers can watch all of the Olympics only on discovery+ (selected markets**) and Eurosport’s digital services from 2 February.

Andrew Georgiou, President of Sport, Discovery said: “For the second time in six months Discovery viewers will be treated to a stunning Olympic menu of incredible action, top on-screen talent, analysis, innovation and entertainment, on the only place to watch all of the Olympics - discovery+ and Eurosport.

We showed in Tokyo that we could deliver exceptional and unique Olympic Games coverage, even in the middle of a pandemic. For Beijing 2022, our unrivalled line-up of experts, industry-leading technology and ambitious approach by placing all the live action on discovery+ alongside real-life entertainment content will once again engage viewers for longer both during and after the Games.

Discovery’s ground-breaking Cube will again continue to push the technological boundaries in broadcasting and studio development. The Cube creates an entire virtual world, beyond any sports studio seen before, depicting a striking mountain hideaway embedded in the face of a snow-capped mountain. As the viewer is brought closer, the experience is revealed to be a vast cinematic winter resort, offering limitless immersive presentation and analysis positions on multiple levels of the resort.

This architectural and cinematic vision has taken 12 months to bring to life. It will create a more believable world for presenters in the studio, who will actually be able to see all the virtual elements in the space and, as a result, make the experience feel more real for the viewer at home.

Bespoke avatars built to closely resemble athletes from specific winter disciplines, will float in the Cube, so ‘Team Discovery’ experts will be able to walk around them and analyse the minutiae of an athletes’ movements and performance in more detail than ever before. In addition, background avatars will populate the studio space, adding atmosphere and life to the environment, and will even be transported around the resort by a functioning ski lift. Bringing together a range of different avatars and winter environments, Discovery’s Cube can create thousands of different combinations to illustrate its winter sports storytelling.

Telling the stories that make the Olympic Games the unique event it is remains integral to unlocking the power of sport. Fans of the Games will be taken on a journey on discovery+ and Eurosport’s platforms as the Road to Beijing draws ever closer. Viewers will be given an access-all-areas pass into the sacrifices to takes to reach an Olympic Games as well as being treated to never-been-told stories involving some of the most unlikely Olympic icons.

One Last Push, a Discovery Eurosport original, goes behind-the-scenes with Summer Olympic legend Greg Rutherford as he bids to represent Team GB in the four-man bob at Beijing 2022 – and Discovery Eurosport is there all the way as, in a twist, ‘Team Deen’ – led by pilot Lamin Deen - evolves throughout the program. The one-hour documentary premieres on Eurosport across Europe (exc UK) on 1 February at 19:00 CET and on discovery+ in the UK from 2 February.

A Brilliant Curling Story, an Olympic Channel documentary and produced by Frank Marshall and Mandalay Sports Media, take an in-depth look at just how, despite a lack of funding, five unassuming women from Scotland united for a shot at Olympic glory to win the hearts of a nation. A Brilliant Curling Story premieres on discovery+ in the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Italy on 24 January and will air for the first time across the Eurosport network on 31 January.

Discovery’s approach to local storytelling is highlighted with the release of programming that will excite and engage local sports fans. In the lead-up to Beijing 2022, Discovery in hockey-mad Finland, will go behind-the-scenes with the national ice hockey team as they step up their preparation for the Games in Leijonat kohti Pekingiä 2022 (translated: Lions Road to Beijing 2022). The 10-part documentary starts on Discovery’s free-to-air channel TV5 on 24 January. Eurosport in France, meanwhile, will broadcast a feature-length documentary on freestyle skier Kevin Rolland. Resilience tells the story behind the near-fatal accident suffered by Rolland and captures the emotional moment he meets his new-born child for the first time.

Discovery’s 360-offering in the lead-up to Beijing 2022 will give the fans the chance to get up close and personal with some of the athletes - including Dorothea Wierer, Andre Hoeflich and Charlotte Kalla - as they chase Olympic glory in Athletes to Watch, presented by Bridgestone (10 episodes). During Games-time itself, and in addition to the live action across discovery+ and Eurosport’s platforms, daily digital show Beijing Today***, sponsored by Bridgestone, will bring fans the latest reaction and analysis from the day’s action.

Scott Young, Senior Vice President, Content and Production, Discovery, said: “Discovery’s ambition for Beijing 2022 is a feat of live and remote production like no other. With discovery+ we are the only place to watch all of the Olympics, presenting all 109 events, the most ever at an Olympic Winter Games, from the city venues in Beijing to the mountain regions of Yanging and Zhangjiakou. Discovery has every region, every venue and event covered for viewers throughout Europe.

“The Cube has been completely reimagined and expanded for Beijing 2022 and will be the ultimate storytelling tool. An eye-catching part of our coverage, we see it as sitting at the forefront of broadcast innovation by combining cinematic vision and gaming technology to revolutionise sports presentation and analysis. The studio is all about helping our talented team of experts, presenters and producers tell the best stories in the most compelling way.

Young added: "In addition to our own team, we will be inviting the Friends and Family of the athletes to be a central part of our coverage. This outstanding initiative, developed by OBS, is designed to give our viewers at home a more immersive experience within our Olympic coverage.

"Discovery will give fans the opportunity to connect with the Olympic Winter Games in new ways, offering a ring side seat as the athletes connect to their loved ones back home who could not travel. We are fully ready to capture the passion of competition, every athlete's story and unlock the power of the Olympics Games."

‘Team Discovery’ for Beijing 2022 features a 107-strong cast of winter sports experts and presenters with a combined medal tally of 80 Olympic medals, including 26 gold medals. With an astonishing 215 Olympic Winter Games appearances between them, Discovery’s team of experts will offer unparalleled insight and know-how to millions of sports fans across discovery+**, Eurosport and the Eurosport App.

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*Discovery will present Beijing 2022 across Europe excluding Russia.

**Beijing 2022 will be available to watch on discovery+ in Denmark, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In all other European markets, except Russia, Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will be available on Eurosport’s digital services. Eurosport’s television coverage is available in all territories.

***Daily digital show Beijing Today will be available to watch on Discovery’s digital platforms in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom