The BBC has launched 360 Sport, a digital service designed to put the viewer at the heart of Rio 2016.
The service puts viewers closer-than-ringside across the games, including at the opening and closing ceremonies, during the athletics and in the boxing where viewers will find themselves in the midst of the action.
Accessible via a dedicated BBC Sport 360 Trial app, the service launches on 5th August and can be downloaded on Android, iOS and Samsung Gear VR.
The BBC is also encouraging users to try, rate and give feedback via BBC Taster to help the BBC learn from the experimental service.
There will be live 360 video footage daily throught the Games, totalling around 100 hours, and available in up to four angles, plus a daily 360 video highlights package.
BBC Sport’s Justin Barrett said “We’re pushing boundries… to bring people closer to the action than ever before. Not everyone can make it to Rio to cheer on Team GB so we’re looking forward to giving sports fans the next best thing.”
This latest offering complements the BBC’s other digital service provisions, including up to 24 live HD streams, catch-up video, personalised features and services, the latest news and in-depth analysis. All of which can be found on the BBC Sport website, by downloading the BBC app or on a Connected TV.
The BBC is not the first broadcaster to experiment with 360 VR technology in sports coverage, although the BBC coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games was some of the first in the country. Discovery announced in May 2016 that Eurosport would be launching a dedicated sports app containing VR sports content.