The whir of drones weaving through the crisp alpine air has become one of the defining sights at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics — and organisers say it’s doing exactly what it was meant to do: bringing fans closer to the action without disrupting the athletes on the snow or ice.
International Olympic Committee officials and Games organisers have stressed that the proliferation of FPV (first-person view) drones deployed during competitions is an evolution in how winter sport is broadcast. These lightweight, high-speed flying cameras — some capable of chasing Olympic ski racers at speeds approaching 120 kph — are capturing innovative angles and real-time perspectives that traditional cameras simply can’t achieve.
Pierre Ducrey, the IOC’s sports director, described the use of drones as part of a broader push to meet modern viewer expectations — especially as audiences increasingly want immersive, dynamic footage of high-speed events like alpine skiing, skeleton and luge. Organisers believe the technology offers fans a “front-row” experience whether they’re watching from home or inside the venue.
Addressing Concerns About Noise and Athlete Experience
Not everyone has instantly embraced the buzzing drones. Some spectators and viewers have commented on the machines’ characteristic high-pitched sound — sometimes likened to a persistent whir — during live feeds. A few drone units have even crash-landed during training runs, leaving debris on courses used for downhill skiing.
However, both Ducrey and Milano Cortina sports director Anna Riccardi said these concerns have been studied closely. They pointed out that drones were tested extensively before competition and that athlete feedback has not indicated any disruption to performance. Each competitor’s sensitivity to noise and innovation may vary, they noted, but so far no formal complaints have been lodged by athletes that would lead to reconsidering drone use.
“We strive to offer the best viewing experience whether in the stadium or outside,” Ducrey said, highlighting the balance organisers are trying to strike between broadcast innovation and preserving fair conditions for competitors.
A Growing Role for Technology in Olympic Presentation
The use of FPV drones at Milano Cortina is not the first time the Olympics have experimented with aerial cameras — drones were introduced in earlier editions of the Games. But this year’s deployment is among the most extensive ever seen, especially in sliding events where tiny flying cameras follow athletes down icy tracks just centimetres behind them.
This trend fits into a larger shift at the Olympics toward fusing new technologies with sporting tradition to enhance broadcasts. Outside of drones, organisers are also integrating AI-enhanced replay technology and cloud-based visualization systems to make replays richer and more engaging, allowing fans to explore multiple camera angles and key moments in unprecedented detail.
For many viewers, that shift has been striking. Online discussions among fans frequently praise the dramatic, nearly on-board perspective drones bring — though some comment on the buzzing sound as part of the “Olympic experience.”
Balancing Innovation and Tradition
IOC officials maintain that drones and other cutting-edge technologies are tools to elevate the Olympic spectacle without compromising the core competition. With top athletes gathered in Italy for one of the most anticipated Winter Games in years — highlighted by thrilling performances like the U.S. ice hockey team’s dominant 5-0 victory over Finland and strong figure skating showings that have kept team events exciting — the enhanced broadcasts serve to bring fans closer to those standout moments.
As the Milano Cortina Games continue, the integration of drones into live coverage may offer a template for future Olympic broadcasts — one that blends athlete-centric competition with a viewer experience more immersive than ever before.
