The 2024 Paris Olympics will see a total of 58 football matches take place across seven venues in France. To ensure accurate officiating, all stadiums will be equipped with Video Assistant Referee (VAR), a technology-aided system that assists on-field referees in making key decisions.
The FIFA Referees Committee has appointed 89 match referees from 45 countries for the Paris 2024 Games, with 20 designated as video match officials. VAR, which made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, will be complemented by the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT).
SAOT utilizes a network of 12 specialized cameras strategically placed to track the precise position of the ball and players on the field. This technology leverages artificial intelligence to analyze limb positions and other relevant body parts for offside decisions. When a player, who appears to be offside, receives the ball, an alert is sent to the VAR, allowing for immediate position verification using automatically drawn offside lines.
While the VAR reviews the situation, the final decision remains with the on-field referee. After the decision-making process, the data used to determine player positions is transformed into a 3D animation displayed on stadium screens and provided to broadcasters, ensuring transparency for fans. This comprehensive approach to officiating underscores the commitment to fair play and technological advancement in sports.
