This summer, athletes and spectators from across the globe met to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, just weeks after the UEFA European Football Championship (Euros) took over the continent for a month-long football frenzy. The highs and the lows of each were felt around the world.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Great Britain and Northern Ireland won a combined total of 189 medals[1,2] and broke several records, from cycling to Paralympic javelin.[3]
Athletes from around the world left the Games with a few records under their belts. At the Olympics, 19 new world records were set, including by Sweden’s Armand Duplantis in the men’s pole vault, and the USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who beat her own world record in the women’s 400m hurdles.[4] Arisa Trew became Australia’s youngest gold medallist at 14; Mijaín López Nunez became the first athlete to win five consecutive gold medals; and Cindy Ngamba became the first refugee to podium.
Over 40 world records were broken in Para athletics, including in the men’s 100m T38 by the USA’s Jaydin Blackwell, and the women’s long jump T61 by Australia’s Vanessa Low.[5] Paralympic swimming saw nearly 30 world records fall, including by Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araújo from Brazil who broke the men’s 150m individual medley SM2 world record twice. Records were also set in para powerlifting, rowing, cycling, archery, and modern pentathlon during Paris 2024.
In football, Spain secured their fourth Euros title, with the tournament’s youngest player ever to take the pitch.[6,7] Albania’s Nedim Bajrami scored in 23 seconds of the starting whistle, wiping out the previous record for the fastest goal. At 19, Türkiye's Arda Güler took the record for youngest player to score in their Euro debut, previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Record-breaking feats extended beyond athletes. BBC Sport reported 218 million streams of the Paris Olympics, with Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m gold-medal race drawing 9.1 million viewers. [8] The Euros final attracted 23.8 million viewers across BBC and ITV, [9] and the tournament drew an estimated 5 billion global viewers.[10] Over 2.6 million spectators attended matches, and 5.8 million visited fan zones, with the sold-out final hosted at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
Spectators watching at home or in the stands can all agree that the performance of athletes at sporting events like those of this summer will go down in history. Working behind the scenes of it all are teams of engineers.
Equipping athletes to win
Innovation by sports engineers helps boost athlete performance across all sport, from running shoes to training equipment. Modern tennis rackets, for example, can increase serve speeds by 17.5% compared to those from the 1870s. [11] In sports where milliseconds matter—like the five milliseconds determining the Paris 2024 men’s 100m winner, with just over one tenth of a second between first and last [12] —having the best equipment on the market can make all the difference.
Dr Thomas Allen, reader in mechanical engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University and Fellow of the Institution, delves into the impact sports engineers have in his article ‘Game Changers’ and a previous report led by Allen for the Institution: ‘Sustainable, Inclusive, Innovative: The role of engineering in sport’. An example includes the 2008 Summer Olympics where 98 percent of the medals and 23 of the 25 records broken in the swimming events were achieved by athletes wearing the LZR Racer line of swimsuits released just before the Games.[13]
For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, engineers from the Manufacturing Technology Centre helped to create a lighter, stronger and custom paracanoeing paddle for para-athlete, Emma Wiggs MBE, using high-performance polymer 3D printing.[14] Wiggs won her second gold and a silver, becoming the first female athlete to win two Paralympic paracanoe medals at a single Games.[15]
Engineering solutions continued to help athletes reach new feats to win at this year’s Games. The bike used by Team GB, who came away with eight medals across the track cycling events,[16] included a lightweight super-stiff carbon frame, forks and seat stays with a customised 3D-printed titanium crank, handlebars, and novel twin seat post to optimise each rider’s aerodynamic positioning. [17] Team GB won gold in the women’s team sprint, breaking the world record for a third time that day, [18] and one of our own members, Dan Bigham, gained silver in the men’s team pursuit. [19] Read more here on the link between Bigham’s dual roles as an engineer and Olympic cyclist.
Innovation also enhances officiating and viewer experience. At Paris 2024, OMEGA introduced systems to track performance metrics, for example speed, jump heights, and shot types in beach volleyball, with real-time data feeding broadcasters via AI models tailored to each sport. [20]
Sometimes innovations stem from adapting technologies from other sectors for use in sport. For example, the airbag technology used in cross country equestrian riders’ vests was originally developed by the automotive industry and adapted to inflate in under 60 milliseconds during a fall to minimise injuries. [21]
Wheelchair aerodynamics is another area to watch. Will Dixon and his PhD supervisors from Loughborough University, in collaboration with RGK wheelchairs, are studying the aerodynamics of racing wheelchairs, focusing on how drag varies with changing body position. Their research uses computational techniques, wind tunnel testing and on-track testing to develop a mathematical model to inform athletes of potential time and power savings. Initial simulations from this work are shown in Figure 1 and 2.
Figure 1: Wheelchair aerodynamics simulation © Will Dixon, Loughborough University
Figure 2: Wheelchair aerodynamics simulation © Will Dixon, Loughborough University
This work is being hosted by The University of Manchester, who are developing the Human-Flow Interactions Wind Tunnel to extend its capability in flow analysis, with support from the UK Sports Institute, British Cycling and the UKRI-funded National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF+). The ongoing collaboration with Loughborough University will lend expertise to identify the important flow mechanisms present around racing wheelchairs in representative test conditions. Timothy Carew, Knowledge Exchange Research Fellow in Applied Aerodynamics at The University of Manchester and member of the Institution, hopes “the success of this work will give us the ability to invite other athletes, students, researchers and commercial partners to access this elite-level wind tunnel facility.”
Enhancing the experience for athletes and spectators
Sports engineering extends beyond apparel and equipment to encompass the design of sports venues, from stadia to swimming pools and even athlete’s villages. Engineers, working with architects, must balance the crowd’s roar with clear communication for TV and online audiences, ensure safety through fire and thermal studies, meet pitch or turf standards, and minimise carbon emissions and energy use in the building’s design.
There are two key themes in modern sports venue design: building a venue that is resilient in the face of climate change, while minimising environmental impact; and ensuring it is safe, comfortable and accessible for all.
Innovation was key to Paris 2024’s pledge to be carbon neutral. The Yves-du-Manoir Stadium claimed to have the world’s first zero carbon hockey turf, made from 80% bio-based fibre raw material derived from sugarcane. [22] The turf uses less water and is intended to reduce surface friction to increase ball roll and speed, while potentially reducing injury from abrasion.
Sustainable transport initiatives varied by sporting event. All Paris 2024 venues were accessible by public transport, with services expanded by 15%, and 400 km of new bike lanes to encourage active travel to and from events. [23] Bordeaux Métropole provided free bicycle rentals from the city centre to Bordeaux Stadium. [24] Some venues offered free travel for ticketholders, while others had free shuttles for spectators or specifically for disabled people. The fleet for athletes and other participants included electric, hybrid and hydrogen powered vehicles. [25] EURO 2024 match ticket holders could travel for free on the local public transport network from 6am on matchday to 6pm the next day and could also get discounted national/international train tickets. [26]
Carbon emission saving technology and improved accessibility initiatives were on display at the Euros. The BVB Stadion Dortmund, where the Three Lions went head-to-head with the Oranje in the Euros semi-final, has a matchday capacity of 62,000 people and is known for its atmosphere. [27] Since 2014 it’s been powered by 100% renewable energy generated from hydroelectric power plants. [28] Last year. solar panels on the roof produced enough electricity to power around 148 three-person households for a year. The stadium offered sensory bags, equipped with noise cancelling headphones, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards, for spectators with sensory needs. [29] All Euro 2024 matches offered audio-descriptive commentary for visually impaired spectators, accessible through the UEFA Euro 2024 app.
The first sensory room in a French arena was a feature of the Porte de la Chapelle Arena used for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at Paris 2024. [30] This is a dedicated space to provide a calm and controlled environment for neurodiverse people or those with sensory sensitivities, which venues around the UK are more commonly introducing – most recently, Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. [31]
Join our sports engineering community: events, interest groups and volunteering
While engineers are continuing to help enhance sport globally for athletes and spectators, there is still a way for the sports industry as a whole to go to reach net zero goals and ensure equitable access for everyone. This is why the Institution is launching a report on sustainable and inclusive sports venues in Manchester on 23 October 2024, titled 'Engineering better sports venues: Designing for athletes, spectators, and the environment'. Click here to register to attend.
This report was produced in collaboration with members of our dedicated sports engineering group. If you’re interested in learning more about this group, visit our webpage or get in touch with the Policy team via policy@imeche.org.
The Institution has also been named as an official partner of the BBC micro:bit competition. The competition intends to nurture design skills among primary school children and promote digital literacy with an emphasis on computing, technology and sport. Register your interest here to volunteer as a judge.
Image credit: AdobeStock © pipop_b
[1] Paris 2024. (2024, September). Paralympic Medal Table: Great Britain. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/medals/great-britain
[2] Paris 2024. (n.d.). Great Britain – Profile. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/great-britain
[3] Team GB. (2024, August 20). Team GB's Paris 2024 in numbers. https://www.teamgb.com/article/team-gbs-time-at-paris-2024-in-numbers/2oGmc22BkIXPabkrrgeQBd
[4] Nelson, M. (2024, August 14). Paris 2024: Records, stats and facts from a historic Olympic Games. https://olympics.com/en/news/records-stats-facts-of-historic-paris-2024
[5] Shimizu, A. (2024, September 8). Paris 2024: A look at the world records that tumbled in Paris. https://www.paralympic.org/paris-2024/feature/paris-2024-world-records-tumbled-paris
[6] UEFA EURO 2024 Germany. (n.d.). Most titles. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/winners/
[7] UEFA EURO 2024 Germany. (2024, June 27). EURO 2024: What records were broken in the group stage? https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/028e-1b3b017f1840-79377560e6f7-1000--euro-2024-what-records-were-broken-in-the-group-stage/
[8] BBC Sport. (2024, August). Paris 2024 breaks BBC Sport record with 218m streams. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/c86l33xy7x0o
[9] Waterson, J. (2024, July 15). England’s Euro 2024 defeat to Spain watched by peak TV audience of 23.8m. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jul/15/england-euro-2024-final-defeat-spain-tv-audience
[10] UEFA EURO 2024 Germany. (2024, July 13). Off the pitch: EURO 2024 by numbers. https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/028f-1b5b7f8838f5-6ee491a93041-1000--off-the-pitch-euro-2024-by-numbers/
[11] Allen, T. (2020). Tennis: a smashing history of how rackets shaped the game. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/tennis-a-smashing-history-of-how-rackets-shaped-the-game-127784
Taraborrelli, L., Grant, R., Sullivan, M., Choppin, S., Spurr, J., Haake, S., & Allen, T. (2019). Materials Have Driven the Historical Development of the Tennis Racket. Applied Sciences, 9(20), 4352. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9204352
[12] Paris 2024. (2024, August 4). Men's 100m Final Results. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/athletics/men-s-100m/fnl-000100--
[13] Stokel-Walker, C. (n.d.). Game Changers: How engineers are reinventing sport. Professional Engineering. https://www.imeche.org/news/professional-engineering-digital-exclusives/game-changers
[14] Manufacturing Technology Centre. (2022, August 18). Going for Gold: Setting the MTC a Paralympic challenge. https://www.the-mtc.org/going-gold-setting-mtc-paralympic-challenge
[15] Paralympics GB. (n.d.). Emma Wiggs. https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/emma-wiggs
[16] Team GB. (n.d.). Paris 2024. https://www.teamgb.com/competitions/paris-2024/5w97FivxTA4QQutKZ5Yksg
[17] British Cycling. (2024). Paris track bike officially launched ahead of Paris 2024 Olympic Games. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20240429-about-bc-static-Paris-track-bike-officially-launched-ahead-of-Paris-2024-Olympic-Games-0
[18] Whittle, J. (2024, August 5). Team GB women’s sprint trio strike gold and smash world record in Paris. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/05/team-gb-women-sprint-trio-strike-gold-and-smash-world-record-in-paris-cycling
[19] Team GB. (2024, August 7). Medals continue to fly in the velodrome with team pursuit silver and bronze. https://www.teamgb.com/article/medals-continue-to-fly-in-the-velodrome-with-team-pursuit-silver-and-bronze/1d14zfdVZAPrTmxWdnntvf
[20] International Olympic Committee. (2024, August 4). OMEGA’s latest innovations providing more insights for Olympic fans than ever before. https://olympics.com/ioc/news/omega-s-latest-innovations-providing-more-insights-for-olympic-fans-than-ever-before
[21] Rhodes, M. (2016). Olympic Equestrians' Vests Double As Airbags. Airbags! Wired. https://www.wired.com/2016/08/olympic-equestrians-vests-double-airbags-airbags/
[22] Poligras. (n.d.). Hockey Zero. https://www.poligras.com/paris
[23] International Olympic Committee. (2024, April 22). Less, better and for longer: Five ways Paris 2024 is delivering more sustainable Games. https://olympics.com/ioc/news/less-better-and-for-longer-five-ways-paris-2024-is-delivering-more-sustainable-games
[24] Paris 2024. (n.d.). Get to the competition venues outside Ile de France. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/spectator/rejoindre-les-sites-de-competition-en-regions
[25] International Olympic Committee. (n 23).
[26] UEFA EURO 2024 Germany. (2024, June 3). UEFA EURO 2024: Ticket holder travel benefits. https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/event-guide/ticket-holders/
[27] UEFA EURO 2024 Germany. (n.d.). BVB Stadion Dortmund. https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/event-guide/dortmund/stadium/
[28] Borussia Dortmund. (2023). United by Borussia! Borussia leads the way: Sustainability Report for the 2022/2023 season. https://verantwortung.bvb.de/2023/en/home-en/
[29] UEFA EURO 2024 Germany. (n.d.). Accessibility. https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/event-guide/dortmund/accessibility/
[30] Kohlhuber, N. (2024, February 11). Olympic Games Paris 2024: Porte de la Chapelle Arena opens with great fanfare and pride. https://olympics.com/en/news/olympic-games-paris-2024-inauguration-porte-de-la-chapelle-arena-pride-environmental-accessibility-legacy
[31] Allianz Stadium. (2024, September 9). Sensory Room and Video Remote Interpreting Introduced to Allianz Stadium. https://allianzstadiumtwickenham.com/news/stadium/sensory-room-and-video-remote-interpreting-introduced-to-allianz-stadium