Skip to main content

How to watch the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in VR

Let the games begin! The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo are in full swing, but instead of staring at a flat-screen TV thinking about what it would be like to actually be there in person, this year you can get closer to the action with VR. Here’s how!

Further reading

Hardware Requirements

To watch the 202o Tokyo Games in VR, you need an Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2 and the NBC Olympics VR by Xfinity app, available on the Oculus app store. In addition, this partnership with Xfinity allows Oculus users to host Watch Parties with up to three other Oculus friends exclusively in the U.S.

Recommended Videos

This viewing experience will allow all viewers to watch live and replay coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies and sports, including boxing, track and field, volleyball, basketball, and more. Additionally, pre-games leading up to the opening ceremony will be available.

 

Do not let the name Xfinity scare you; you will be able to watch live events and full-event replays through authentication of your cable or satellite provider. The authentication is pretty simple: All you have to do is simply log in to your cable or satellite provider, which will grant you access to the live events. If you do not have a cable provider, you will only have access to the featured content available on the app.

In previous years of the event, VR was available to watch on smartphones via Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, and more.

What to expect from the VR experience

The experience with the NBC Olympics VR by Xfinity app places you right in the action. Since there will not be an audience in attendance, people who can view the event via VR will get a front-row view. The Oculus Quest allows this experience to be wireless. Users can either stand or sit down to view the event and utilize the Oculus controls to navigate the app and watch the various events that are taking place. This VR experience will give you a 360-degree view of the events. Furthermore, the featured content will show you various training that athletes partake in for The Games, and it even places you in Tokyo to learn more about them.

Note that not every sporting event taking place during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be available in VR. Virtual reality requires special cameras to be placed in various spots, and with sports such as cycling, you can imagine the technical undertaking to cover the track and the constant movements.

James Holloway
James is a techie at heart; he covers Home Theater and Gaming for Digital Trends with a focus on how to get the best out of…
The Samsung Q990D is a flagship soundbar with a $500 discount
Samsung HW-Q990D Dolby Atmos Soundbar.

There’s no denying the immersive surround sound experience that a full-fledged Dolby Atmos speaker setup provides. Unfortunately, splurging on a complete Atmos configuration often entails spending thousands on the hardware you’ll need to run the show and the labor required to install it. That’s why soundbars like the Samsung HW-Q990D are such an appealing alternative.

Right now, the Samsung HW-Q990D 11.1.4ch Soundbar with Dolby Atmos is discounted to $1,500. That may not sound like a steal, but consider the fact that the full retail price is $2,000. 

Read more
Roku adds 2 new streaming sticks, announces plans for projectors
New Roku streaming sticks for 2025.

It's been several years since Roku updated its streaming sticks, but now there are two new models: The HD-resolution, $30 Roku Streaming Stick, and a 4K, HDR-capable, $40 Roku Streaming Stick Plus. The new sticks replace the company's Express streaming devices, creating a more streamlined product line up consisting of the two new sticks, Roku's current Ultra, Streaming Stick 4K, and Streambar SE. Both new Streaming Stick models can be preordered starting today.

The new Sticks are touted as being 35% smaller than sticks from other brands. Roku's research suggests the stick design is a fan favorite, saying, "Almost all streamers (90%) want a clean setup with streaming devices or wires hidden behind the TV." The new sticks get the same voice-enabled Bluetooth remote that ships with the Streaming Stick 4K. The remotes also let you control volume on the connected TV.

Read more
Get this Vizio 55-inch 4K TV while it’s marked down to under $300
The Vizio 50-inch V4K50M Series 4K LED.

Vizio makes some of the best affordable TVs on the market. While these budget-friendly sets are pretty much Walmart-only at this point (save for the occasional Target markdown), Vizio’s entry-level and midrange 4K TVs offer great picture quality and solid smart features. And this week, one of these Vizio sets is on sale:

For a limited time, you can purchase the Vizio 55-inch V4K55M 4K LED at Walmart or Target for only $265. The full retail price of this model is $450.

Read more