How drones are transforming Olympics broadcast coverage and why fans are giving rave reviews

How drones are transforming Olympics broadcast coverage and why fans are giving rave reviews originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

From the icy chutes of the bobsled track to the steep descents of the Alpine slopes, the 2026 Winter Olympics have been defined by a constant, high-pitched hum as a new generation of first-person-view (FPV) drones replaces static cameras with high-speed perspectives.

This fleet of over 25 specialized aircraft, capable of tailing athletes at speeds up to 140 kph, has offered viewers an unprecedented look at the elite competition, while simultaneously sparking a debate among purists over the intrusive buzz now echoing through the mountain valleys of Italy.

Here's more on how drones are taking the 2026 Winter Games by storm.

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule

Why are drones being used at the Winter Olympics?

Drones are being used in Milan to fundamentally change how audiences experience speed. While drones have been used in previous Olympics for scenery or light shows, this year marks the official debut of First-Person View (FPV), chasing athletes in real-time during live competition.

The Olympic drone pilots are the best thing that happened the games, unsung heroes, period.

The coverage this year is officially on another level. We can finally feel so much closer to the action, it's pure magic, unreal.

Is it just me, or is this the best upgrade in years? pic.twitter.com/Gp88wl9Rlj

— Linus ✦ Ekenstam (@LinusEkenstam) February 10, 2026

Traditional fixed cameras often fail to convey the sheer velocity of winter sports. Drones instead provide a parallel perspective rather than a perpendicular one.

MORE: Winter Olympics medal tracker

What is an FPV drone?

An FPV (First-Person View) drone is a type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that allows the pilot to see exactly what the drone sees in real-time.

Unlike standard drones where the pilot looks at a screen on a controller or a smartphone, an FPV pilot wears video goggles that provide an immersive, cockpit-style view.

The drones that NBC is using for its Olympic coverage weigh just 250 grams and can travel at speeds up to 75 miles per hour. These drones have been a great addition to the broadcast — it really helps you appreciate the speed of some of these events.pic.twitter.com/E20e90Yury

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 11, 2026

The drones are designed to transmit video with nearly zero delay, giving viewers a new experience.

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What Winter Olympic events are using drones on broadcasts?

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Olympic Broadcasting Service has deployed a fleet of 25 FPV drones across almost every outdoor high-speed event.

The focus this year is on "chase-cam" footage, where the drone follows inches or feet behind an athlete.

MORE: Complete viewer's guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics

What other sports have used drones in broadcasts before?

Extreme sports were the first to embrace drones because their athletes often move through terrain that is impossible for traditional camera cranes or helicopters to navigate.

ESPN was one of the first major broadcasters to use drones during the 2015 Winter X Games in Aspen. They tracked snowboarders and snowmobile racers, providing the first real chase footage seen on television.

Traditional field sports were slower to adopt drones due to safety concerns over flying above massive crowds, but several leagues have broken the barrier, including MLB, where teams now use drones for pre-game coverage and to capture cinematic sweeps of the stadium during home runs.

Lastly, drones have become a staple of PGA Tour and LIV Golf broadcasts. Instead of just showing a graphic of the hole, drones fly the entire length of the fairway at "ball height," giving viewers a literal "bird's eye" view of the hazards and green undulations before the players tee off.

Here's a table of when drones made their debuts for respective sports:

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