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BBC Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

For the BBC Sport Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, we didn’t just deliver a virtual studio, we crafted an entire virtual world that empowered editorial teams to tell stories in rich, visually compelling ways throughout 200+ hours of broadcast coverage.

What began as a modest greenscreen space at the BBC’s MediaCity facility in Salford became an expansive, immersive environment, rooted in the dramatic spirit of the winter landscape and engineered for maximum creative versatility.

The design placed presenters not only in stunning interior studio spaces but seamlessly into exterior winter scenes embedded within a rugged mountain setting. Presenters could sit on virtual rocks or benches, transition between segments with dynamic landscape visuals behind them, and inhabit different parts of the environment depending on the editorial need. This immersive world proved far more than a backdrop, it became a dynamic storytelling asset that adapted to the needs of analysis, discussion, interview, highlight reels, live introductions, and top-of-show segments.

Under the hood, the virtual environment was powered by Unreal Engine 4.26 integrated with Vizrt’s real-time rendering and control tools, giving the BBC production team intuitive control over a range of presentation positions and visual configurations. This system enabled rapid switching between distinct scenic “zones” of the virtual world, supporting a fluid broadcast workflow that responded to the live pace of the Olympics.

Rather than confining presenters to a single, static set, the design celebrated variety - the same world could feel reflective and analytical for in-depth discussions, vibrant and energetic for live introductions, or calm and scenic during highlight transitions. It gave producers a visual palette rich enough to match the editorial tone of each segment across days of competition.

From pre-show analysis to late-night review, the virtual world was more than a space, it was a creative playground that enhanced storytelling, supported editorial flexibility, and delivered visual variety throughout the Games. This virtual ecosystem didn’t just hold content, it amplified it, helping audiences feel connected to the event even thousands of miles from Beijing.

Client

BBC Sport

Design

Jim Mann
Toby Kalitowski

Realtime Engine

Unreal Engine 4.26

Studio Integration

BBC Sport in-house team

Powered by

Viz 4

Awards

Olympic Golden Rings - Bronze, Best Innovation or Set Design

"Cant believe we didn't win Gold for Best Set Design. It was magical (especially the penguins and polar bears)" - Responing to news that the virtual set had won a Bronze at the IOC Olympic Golden Rings awards.

Clare Balding

BBC Sport Presenter