BBC look into using fake crowd noise during their Olympics coverage after spectators are banned from almost all of the events at the Tokyo games
The BBC are looking into using fake crowd noise during their coverage of the Olympics after spectators were banned from almost all Tokyo 2020 events.
Artificial atmosphere has been a common feature of live sports broadcasting during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Beeb using it for behind-closed-doors Premier League and FA Cup games last season.
The BBC have not needed canned sound for major events so far this summer, following the return of supporters at Wimbledon and Euro 2020.
The Olympics are set to take place without fans in attendance due for most of the events
Fake crowd noise has not been needed at major events this summer such as at Wimbledon
But last week’s decision to bar fans from the Olympics means the corporation and Eurosport, who are also broadcasting Tokyo 2020 in the UK, are now both exploring how they can integrate fake crowd noise into their coverage of the Games, which begin a week on Friday. A final decision is yet to be made but should the Beeb end up using artificial noise on their main channels, they are likely to offer an option to have the real sound on their red button.
Fake audio would be provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services, who control footage of the Games as the host broadcaster.
It is far from a simple task, however, with the atmosphere markedly different at each of the 33 Olympic sports.
‘It’s a unique and challenging set of circumstances,’ said NBC’s former Olympics host Bob Costas. ‘Is the sound at a diving venue the same at a track and field venue? Is it the same in gymnastics as it is in swimming? The worst thing is to have it contrived.’
Track cycling is one of the very Olympic events that will have fans in attendance this summer
The only events where spectators will be present at Tokyo 2020 are those being held in Miyagi, Shizuoka and Ibaraki, with a cap of 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity.
Track cycling will have up to 1,800 fans in attendance as the 3,600-seater velodrome is in the city of Izu in Shizuoka, 75 miles south of Tokyo. That means fake crowd noise would not be needed for coverage of one of Team GB’s most successful sports, with Jason Kenny looking to surpass Sir Chris Hoy and become Britain’s most decorated Olympian outright.
Meanwhile, a 24-hour helpline has been set up for British athletes to be able to report any welfare issues while they are in Japan.