How Data Is Changing the 2026 Winter Olympics ^{CEFR B2}

The 2026 Winter Olympics are arriving with a wider range of data and technology than in past Games. Teams, researchers and broadcasters increasingly use data science, computer vision and wearable tech to study movement, measure performance and present results. These tools identify fine-grained patterns in motion and help coaches use information from many events to design training and race strategies.

Analytics now perform a dual role: they support preparation and performance improvements, and they shape how the competition is told and shown. Clear visuals and data-driven commentary make it easier for viewers to understand the differences between athletes. Commentators and media outlets are relying more on analytic insights to explain results and records.

Hassan Rafique, an assistant professor of sport analytics at the David B. Falk College of Sport at Syracuse University, studies how these changes affect athletes and audiences. The same technologies that push athletes toward higher achievements—sometimes described as turning super athletes into record-breakers—also raise questions about fairness, access and the rules that should govern their use. It remains unclear how quickly every team or broadcaster will adopt every tool, and observers expect further change as experts, teams and media decide which data and methods will matter most at future Games.