Twitter, for example, has become a central part of media coverage, with consumers following their mobile phones and other handheld devices. During the recent Uefa Champions League Final, the biggest soccer tournament in European football, an average of 13,000 tweets were being sent every second. This knocked the Super Bowl off top spot, further underling the increasing importance of social media.
And Twitter is actively encouraging the 10,500 competing athletes to engage with social media and tweet their experiences. The overarching ambition of this is to ensure that fans, regardless of where in the world there are, feel closer to the athletes.
Allied to this, the BBC, the host broadcaster for the Games, has confirmed that for the first time in its storied history it is to screen the Games in 3D, thereby offering viewers a more life-like picture. The addition will be free of charge and the BBC has promised to deliver the most engaging coverage ever.
In recognition of this, a number of TV manufacturers have recently released a number of new 3D-capable sets. Panasonic, one of the big sponsors of the Games, has used its leverage to launch a new TV set. And industry experts in the UK have suggested that the Games may represent a landmark moment in the TV industry.
