The International Olympic Committee -IOC- has awarded beIN MEDIA GROUP exclusive multi-platform rights across the Middle East and North Africa for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles 2028, and the Youth Olympic Games scheduled for 2026 and 2028. The agreement, signed in Milan, secures a full Olympic cycle in the region and ensures continuity in the coverage of key events on the Olympic calendar.
The renewal extends a partnership that began in 2015 and unfolds within a strategic environment where visibility and digital access are central to the development of the Olympic Movement. Beyond the acquisition of media rights, the deal reinforces a stable distribution framework in a region with growing demographic, sporting and technological relevance.
Expanding Olympic reach in the Middle East and North Africa
For federations and national Olympic committees across the region, continuity in coverage provides stability in the media exposure of their athletes and competitions. Guaranteed presence on linear television and OTT platforms enhances the visibility of emerging talent and strengthens the connection between regional audiences and the international Olympic calendar.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry underlined the scope of the partnership, stating: “We are pleased to continue our partnership with beIN MEDIA GROUP in the Middle East and North Africa. Through its extensive reach and sports broadcast expertise, beIN plays an important role in bringing the Olympic Games to millions of fans across the region.” Her remarks position the agreement as a tool to expand institutional influence and long-term impact.
Dakar 2026 and the African dimension of the new Olympic cycle
The new broadcast framework coincides with a cycle that includes the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. The geographic and cultural proximity between Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region creates additional momentum to strengthen Olympic storytelling in interconnected and rapidly developing sporting markets.
Group CEO Yousef Al-Obaidly said: “The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of global sport and culture, and we are proud to continue our partnership with the IOC, bringing the Games to millions of viewers across the region.” He added that securing the rights to Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 “reflects our long-term commitment to the Games and to expanding their reach and positive influence worldwide.”
Technical structure and audiovisual deployment of the agreement
The planned rollout combines the flagship network beIN SPORTS with the OTT platform TOD, which will deliver live competition, highlights and original programming in multiple languages. During Milano Cortina 2026, coverage includes a dedicated package of nine beIN SPORTS XTRA channels, reinforcing content segmentation and multi-platform access.
Broadcast operations began on Friday with the opening ceremony of the Winter Games, which run until 22 February and bring together nearly 3,200 athletes from more than 90 national Olympic committees across 16 disciplines. The technical and editorial structure activated for this edition marks the operational start of a cycle that will extend through Los Angeles 2028 and the upcoming Youth Olympic events.
