Twitter goes into Rio Olympics mode, launches 200+ hashtag-triggered emojis

With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games set to commence on Saturday, August 5, Twitter has unveiled its plans for the Games extravaganza and announced the launch of more than 200 hashtag-triggered Twitter emojis.

Starting August 2, fans across the globe can share their passion for their favourite teams on Twitter with 207 team emojis. Tweeting with the three-letter country code hashtag (for example, #IND for India) will trigger flag emojis for every team, including the Refugee Olympic Team (#ROT). Fans can also trigger over 50 Olympics and sports emojis on Twitter. The hashtags that trigger the emojis will be available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The hashtags that trigger sports emojis, as well as #Rio2016 and #Olympics, are also available in Japanese, Korean and Arabic. All emojis will be available in the coming days.

“Twitter’s activation of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will bring fans around the world together to see what’s happening with the teams before, during and after the top athletes compete for glory,” said Leslie Berland, CMO of Twitter. “Twitter, Vine and Periscope will offer fans inside access, commentary, highlights and conversation throughout the Games and as the action unfolds.”

India’s tennis champion @MirzaSania launch Tweeted the India Flag Emoji with a special video tweet for fans to support Team India at #RioOlympics.

Fans of Team India at the Olympics can also show their support by Tweeting #KheloIndia to @IndiaSports to change their Twitter profile picture for the duration of the Olympics.

Fans can also trigger over 50 Olympics and sports emojis on Twitter

Periscope and Vine will bring fans closer to the Games as well. Periscope will have a featured channel with Olympics-related content. Vine will also feature Olympics-related content in the Explore section on Vine’s mobile apps in the coming days, and when people double-tap a Vine from @Olympics and various team accounts, they will find an Olympic Flame instead of a heart.

Fans in Rio will also feel the Olympic spirit through Twitter. Tweets from all over the world will be projected live on Rio’s aqueductArcos da Lapa.

Additionally, a customised tour bus, called ‘Twitter Buzz’, will also be displaying Tweets and Periscope broadcasts through its windows in routes around the city, offering free wi-fi to enhance the fan experience.

How to follow the #Olympics on Twitter?

The best way to stay close to the Olympics conversation on Twitter is by following the official hashtag, #Rio2016, and the following official accounts:

• @Olympics
• @OlympicFlame
• @Rio2016
• @Rio2016_en

Another way to join the conversation on Twitter is to follow the teams and athletes going to Rio. For the latest from Team India, follow @IndiaSports and @IndianOlympians.

Twitter Data

Ahead of the Games, the conversation on Twitter has heated up. Following are the countries that have seen fans Tweet the most about the Olympics:

1. United States
2. Brazil
3. Japan

The most mentioned and anticipated Olympic sports on Twitter are:

1. Basketball
2. Volleyball
3. Swimming

The most mentioned athletes on Twitter are:

1. Usain Bolt (@usainbolt)
2. Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps)
3. Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles)