When Swedish cross-country skiers Frida Karlsson, Ebba Anderson and Jonna Sundling proudly march into the Olympic Winter Games in the northern Italian cities of Cortina and Milan on 6 February, their presence will be fuelled by many factors.
Talent comes first, of course. But it’s not enough without determined enthusiasm, hard work, the ability to read the environment and adapt to the conditions and, not least, a desire to constantly fine-tune and improve their performance. It’s not easy to secure a place among the world’s elite – and a place in the world’s most coveted and admired winter sports event.
The same characteristics are recognised at TCL. So it is no surprise that the electronics giant and the legendary sporting event have partnered to provide audiovisual equipment and home appliances for this and future Summer and Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games – all the way through to 2032.
“At the centre of everything we do is inspire greatness,” says Stefan Streit, CMO of TCL in EU.
“Athletes are constantly raising the bar of human achievement and we strive to do the same in technology. Together, we hope to inspire everyone to challenge the limits in their daily lives.”
Partnering with one of the world’s biggest sporting events demands quality. Athletes need everything to run smoothly when they need to focus on performing at their best.
“To be able to perform at the highest level, everything has to work – around the clock. The Olympic Villages are equipped with TCL‘s next-generation home appliances, such as air conditioners that deliver filtered air with an almost silent noise level of 16 dB. Washing machines and other household appliances are also designed to make daily life easy, and when athletes need to relax, they can do so in front of the high-quality televisions that TCL is world renowned for,” says Stefan Streit.
The display technology also benefits the spectators at the competition areas – and the athletes themselves. Thanks to a special set-up, athletes can get in touch with family and friends immediately after their performance and celebrate their achievements with their loved ones, even if they may not be able to travel to Northern Italy.
Of course, not all sports fans are able to take weeks out of their diary to travel to Milan either. But with the right equipment, the feeling of bringing the athletes to your living room can be quite realistic.
As the spectators cheer, the skates clink against the ice, the curling team shouts, the skis swoosh through the snow and the medals are hung around the necks of the winners, you can virtually be on the podium from the comfort of your living room if you have the right equipment.
TCL talks about inspiring greatness. This also applies to the company’s own developers. TCL is a pioneer in Mini LED. In 2019, the electronics giant’s R&D department found a way to increase the number of LED lights in TV screens. A groundbreaking discovery that has since been improved again and again – and always with TCL at the forefront. Thanks to this incredible technology, which is even available in TVs up to 115 inches, the entire winter games experience is razor-sharp on screen.
The many LED lights ensure that every part of the screen is clear – shadows and light are controlled down to the smallest detail. A classic, expensive flat screen can have up to a few hundred dimming zones – zones where the light can go up and down in brightness.
But in a Mini LED, the number can be 10-15 times higher – and the NITS number can be sky-high. It may sound dry and technical – but the result is literally super bright: the contrast is extreme, even the fastest movements are captured sharply and all the bright colours that are a natural part of winter sports shine through. And that’s regardless of whether the sun is beating into your living room or you’ve created cinema darkness while watching your favourite sport. Combine that with a TCL soundbar and you’ll bring the soundscape right into your living room – so realistic that you’ll want to pull on your winter jacket yourself.
Athletes have been preparing for years to push boundaries and give you the best experience. Your own preparation doesn’t have to take that long – you just need to make sure you have the right equipment to get in the front row from the comfort of your living room. TCL inspires greatness – and you can bring the perfection that inspiration has created to your living room.
There are many powerful partnerships: Technology and human endeavour. Stellar moments and sofa cosiness. And TCL and the Olympic Games.
Especially the latter can be called a perfect partnership, says Stefan Streit
“At TCL, we believe in the power of sport to inspire greatness and unite people across cultures. TCL will leverage the latest technology to elevate the way people worldwide experience the Olympic Games. From advanced display technology that brings fans closer to the action, to home appliances that help athletes feel ready to perform at their best, we will help to shape a more connected future for everyone.”