How Facebook Is Connecting Fans to Olympics

The Olympic Games in Tokyo kick started on 23rd July, 2021. After having been cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic the games were postponed to July 2021 where they are being played under the Olympic Games 2020 banner. Unfortunately due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the Olympic Games feature only athletes and no live spectators. Taking the note of the situation Facebook has come up with a way to allow fans connect to the largest sporting event in the world via its apps i.e. Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

“This summer, people around the world will use our apps to experience the Games. We’re rolling out features across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to help people discover content and cheer on their teams.” says Facebook. Here’s how Facebook is connecting fans to the Olympic Games:

FACEBOOK

Facebook app has a “hub of information” which includes highlights from official Olympic broadcast partners, team and athlete overviews, history of Olympics. explanation of competitions that are new to the Olympic Games as well as posts from friends and more. Fans can check out the “hub” or click on the #Olympics or #Tokyo2020 hashtags.

INSTAGRAM

Through augmented reality (AR) effects on Instagram, fans can get a unique experience in both Reels and Stories. One of the AR effects allows fans to mirror the movements of the official Olympics mascot, Miraitowa and even earn medals (AR) for their performance.

Another effect features the official beat music of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

The Miraitowa effect is available on the official @olympics Instagram account while the beat music is available on the @Tokyo2020 Instagram account. Furthermore, Reels on the @instagram account will take fans behind the scenes with eleven Olympians as they prepare for Tokyo.

WHATSAPP

The “official Olympics chatbot is now available on WhatsApp.” The chatbot will share the Olympic schedule and will also tune-in information for local broadcasts of the Olympic Games around the world which will also include the latest news and medal standings.

VIDEO CONTENT

Available only in selected countries, video content will give fans “access to highlights from Tokyo 2020, athlete profiles and interviews throughout the course of the Games via official Olympic broadcasters’ Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts.” Facebook says. The Facebook pages include NBC Universal in the US, Eurosport for parts of Europe, and beIN in the Middle East and North Africa.  In selected territories that include India, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Spanish-speaking Latin America fans can catch the day’s highlights on the official Olympics Facebook Page.