Every night at 9:00 p.m. Riyadh time, the Athletes’ Village opens a new window to the world through Inside the Village, a live original format streamed on the ‘ANOC.tv’ platform. This initiative from the Association of National Olympic Committees –ANOC–, produced in partnership with the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association –ISSA–, expands the usual digital coverage to offer a closer, everyday look at what happens during the Games beyond the competition venues.
The programme places the human dimension of sport at the forefront. Athletes and officials share daily experiences that reflect life inside the Village, from routines and interactions to emotions that do not appear in standard broadcasts. The concept allows viewers to discover what happens away from the field of play and to understand the event through the personal stories of those living it from within.
Interaction between fans and newly crowned champions
One of the most symbolic moments of Inside the Village is the segment dedicated to gold medallists. Newly crowned champions are invited to leave their mark on the Wall of Winners, a mural located inside the Village that has become a visual symbol of sporting achievement. This gesture connects competitive success with the shared community experience of life in the Village.
The show also offers a direct line of communication between athletes and their families. Through the live chat on ‘ANOC.tv’, relatives can send messages that are occasionally read on air. This interaction allows athletes to feel the support of those following the Games from their home countries, strengthening the link between the on-site experience and audiences watching from afar.
Other windows that have brought the Village closer to the public
The intention to showcase life inside the Athletes’ Village is not new. During recent events, platforms such as TikTok saw thousands of athlete-generated videos during Paris 2024, revealing common areas, rooms, and daily routines. The International Olympic Committee –IOC– published exclusive Village tours for Tokyo and Paris on its official platforms, while media outlets such as ‘NBC Olympics’ produced guided walkthroughs with athletes to portray their day-to-day experience at major competitions.
Other multi-sport events have also highlighted the environments where athletes live and interact. The Village for The World Games 2025, presented by the organisers as “the heart of the event”, inspired various reports focused on multicultural coexistence. The Olympic Channel released short documentaries after Tokyo 2020, capturing personal stories filmed within the residential areas and reinforcing public interest in the everyday side of elite sport.
A defining element of ANOC.tv
The joint production with the ISSA integrates digital participation, exclusive live content, and constant interaction with the audience. This approach extends the reach of the event beyond competition venues and underlines ‘ANOC.tv’’s commitment to delivering immersive experiences within multi-sport formats.
Replays of Inside the Village are available on ‘ANOC.tv’. Until 20 November, the live broadcast airs every night at 9:00 p.m. Riyadh time, offering a continuous and close-up view of life inside the Village and the daily rhythm of the international community that accompanies the Games.
