The next time we tune in to hear the drums of NBC’s Summer Olympics coverage, the torch will be lit in California for the first Summer Olympics in the United States in 34 years. And from the perspective of those studying the business of sports, the bar could not be higher. By all accounts, the 2024 Summer Olympic Games held in Paris were a triumphant display of the power of global sports, as both an entertainment product and a platform to inspire via our connection to the collective pursuit of athletic excellence.
The host city — as well as dozens of behind-the-scenes sport management companies involved in executing a near flawless three-week event — held a safe and welcoming mega-event, created storylines that resonated, and developed a unique aesthetic to the Games thread through every part of Paris 2024’s presentation. It should be fun to see this extended to the Paralympics starting Aug. 28.
Planning for the LA28 Summer Games is well underway, and executives across all levels of the movement are noting the winners beyond the podium from this summer’s showcase event. With a look ahead toward LA28, and a tip-of-the-cap to all those involved in the 2024 Paris Games, below is a recap of sport business storylines that stood out to me following three spectacular weeks in France. 1.
NBC & Peacock Strike Gold: Wow. If you want an illustration of how to produce and distribute a best-in-class live sports event, look no further than NBC Universal’s 2024 Olympic coverage..