Technological advancements at UEFA Euro 2024 demonstrate a dedication to enhancing both the sport and viewer experience with cutting-edge design and broadcast technologies. Let’s explore these innovations and what goes into a world-class broadcast set-up.

The UEFA Euro 2024 Ball

The Adidas Fussballliebe, meaning "love of football" in German, is the official match ball of the European Championship. Players appear to have mastered it with plenty of stunning goals. And the UEFA Euro 2024 ball immediately sold out as fans purchased it from Adidas' online store. But what is it that makes this ball so unique?

"It's quick," said England captain Harry Kane in a Fox Sports article. "For me, personally, it is better for the strikers or the goalscorers than it is for the goalkeepers, so I'm not going to complain about that."

UEFA says the Fussballliebe has been designed for "accuracy and consistency, supporting fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention." But it’s not just its aerodynamics and sustainable design that has got people talking.

The Technology Behind the Official Match Ball

Connected ball technology, first deployed at the 2022 World Cup, is being used for the first time at a European Championship. And it can help identify every touch of the ball, sending precise, real-time data to video assistant referees (VARs). A chip fixed on a gyroscope inside the ball sends data 500 times per second to record the point at which it’s kicked. In combination with artificial intelligence (AI), it can help make decisions with offsides or marginal handballs, for instance.

The innovation contributes to UEFA’s semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and is the key to supporting faster in-match decisions. SAOT enables quicker and more accurate offside decisions thanks to ten specialized cameras that track 29 different body points per player. Connected ball technology can also help VAR officials identify every individual touch of the ball, shrinking time spent resolving handball and penalty incidents. Fans are then shown detailed explanations of VAR decisions on big screens.

UEFA has also installed goal-line technology (GLT) systems in all the venues for the tournament. The system deploys seven cameras per goal, utilizing control software to track the ball within the goal area. Using vision-processing techniques and software, the GLT indicates if a goal was scored within one second of the action courtesy of a vibration and visual signal on each match official's watch.

All of this is done to ensure the viewing experience is better and more accurate for in-person attendees and at-home spectators! But what goes into a world-class broadcast set-up?

Broadcast Coverage Involves State-of-the-Art Tech

UEFA Euro 2024 is televised globally by more than 130 UEFA broadcast partners to an estimated live audience of more than five billion people – with millions more following the tournament online.

Each match features at least 86 commentary positions, 14 pitch presentation positions, multiple pitch-view studios, and up to ten pre- and post-match interview positions, among others.

The standard plan for each match involves 46 cameras, including slow-motion and high-speed cameras. Some are positioned on the pitch side, while others are set up for aerial shots or for when the teams arrive at stadiums. An external 'beauty shot' camera mounted on a crane is also added for the quarterfinals and onwards. All footage is then supplemented by the highest-quality surround sound and immersive audio.

To learn more about what it takes to broadcast a Euro game, check out this UEFA article.

Wrap Up

The high-tech official match ball of the UEFA Euro 2024 uses connected ball technology to help VAR officials make more accurate, speedy decisions and give fans the best viewing experience possible. Broadcast coverage of Euro 2024 then involves state-of-the-art technology, including 46 cameras. All of this is done to ensure the best viewing experience for spectators at home and in person!

What special moments have you glimpsed during Euro 2024? Have you witnessed this high-tech ball in action or seen any broadcast beauty shots?