Drones Soar at the Olympics, Capturing Unprecedented Angles

NBC leverages drone technology to revolutionize sports coverage at the 2026 Winter Games

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The 2026 Winter Olympics have seen a significant rise in the use of drones to capture dynamic, up-close footage of athletes in action. These drones, operated by specialized three-person teams, are providing viewers with camera angles that were previously impossible, giving them a true sense of the incredible speed and intensity of Olympic events like skiing and snowboarding.

Why it matters

The innovative use of drones at the Olympics represents a major technological advancement in sports broadcasting, allowing networks like NBC to provide viewers with a more immersive and thrilling viewing experience. As these drone capabilities continue to evolve, it raises the question of whether similar drone-based coverage could be implemented in other major sporting events beyond the Olympics.

The details

Each drone is operated by a three-person team consisting of a pilot, a director, and a technician, who work in constant communication to manage the flight paths, timing, and technical adjustments necessary to capture dynamic shots while prioritizing safety. The drones allow cameras to be positioned parallel to the athletes, rather than the traditional perpendicular angle, providing viewers with a sense of speed and intensity that was previously unattainable.

  • The drone-based coverage has been a prominent feature of the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are currently underway.

The players

Michael Sheehan

The coordinating director of NBC's Olympics coverage, who has praised the drone footage for its ability to capture a new perspective on the athletes' speed and intensity.

Barry Svrluga

A reporter for The Washington Post who wrote a detailed story about how the drones are operated and integrated into the Olympic broadcast.

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What they’re saying

“When a camera is chasing the athlete down the hill — right in front of them or right behind them — you truly get the sense of how fast they're going. That's virtually impossible to capture with a wide shot shooting from the side. The drone coverage takes us to a place we've traditionally never been.”

— Michael Sheehan, Coordinating Director, NBC Olympics Coverage (The Washington Post)

“Traditional sports coverage is perpendicular — cameras shooting as action moves left to right. The drones let us be parallel to the athlete, right in front of them or right behind them, and that changes everything.”

— Michael Sheehan, Coordinating Director, NBC Olympics Coverage (The Washington Post)

What’s next

As the use of drones in sports broadcasting continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if similar drone-based coverage is implemented in other major sporting events beyond the Olympics.

The takeaway

The innovative use of drones at the 2026 Winter Olympics has revolutionized sports broadcasting, providing viewers with unprecedented access and a heightened sense of the athletes' speed and intensity. This technological advancement sets the stage for potential future applications of drone-based coverage in other major sporting events.