74 SPORTS & CEREMONIES
enough. AI doesn’t understand things. It can recognise things and can even draw on a dataset, but there is a level of understanding that is necessary for automated audio description to be truly effective.” Sport is a high-value sector and the World Cup demonstrated that audio description at this scale is possible. “Quite frankly, it’s a travesty there isn’t more of it,” says Lewis. “Within that period of time, it’s logistically possible to get everything audio described.” The fact of the matter, according to Lewis, is that people aren’t talking about it enough. “The argument for more is to allow people with sight problems to watch or enjoy media and content in the way that everybody else does.” HALF-TIME HAVOC! The World Cup final had everything – a red card, a 106th-minute winner, confrontations after the final whistle, President Trump refusing to leave Spain’s team photo and even an appearance from Tom Cruise. One of the landmark moments of the tournament was the inclusion of the half-time show during the final, which sparked controversy across the globe. Opinions remain divided on its inclusion, although it’s clear where Wayne Rooney stands on the issue, labelling the show as ‘crap’. From an AV perspective, the challenges involved combining a sports broadcast with a live stadium concert within an extremely limited time frame. The show featured Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and Chris Martin, alongside appearances from footballing legends and, most
BC Place in Vancouver hosted the New Zealand vs Egypt game on 22 June (above)
importantly, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Delivering the show required meticulous planning and a network of LED screens, audio systems and broadcast workflows. WHAT’S NEXT? A major sporting event will soon return to the US once again, when LA hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics. With the success of the World Cup, the immersive experiences inside stadiums and fan zones will undoubtedly be even greater. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is already planning the next World Cup in 2030 and recently suggested that we could see a 64-team tournament. The edition is set to be even more logistically complicated, as it will take place across six host countries. Spain, Portugal and Morocco are set to host the majority
of the matches, but there will be one match held apiece in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, in honour of it being the centenary of the World Cup. Morocco’s Grand Stade Hassan II is set to house a capacity of 115,000 spectators, making it the largest football stadium in the world. The stadium will also feature colossal overhead LED matrix set-ups. High-definition multicamera streaming and immersive 3D volumetric player avatars for analytical replays will also play a key role at the next tournament. Stadiums are no longer just a venue where football is hosted, they are immersive environments for fans and spectators alike. As these venues become more connected and accessible, future tournaments will depend as much on what happens around the pitch as what happens on it.
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