Longitudinal Measurement Study of the Domain Names Associated With the Olympic Games

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive longitudinal measurement study of domain names associated with major global events. We aimed to understand the registrants’ motives, usage, and abuse of these domain names. We specifically focused on the Olympic Games since they attract sustained attention from when the venue is announced to the event’s conclusion. Our study focused on the Tokyo, Beijing, and Paris Olympics. Our three-year investigation revealed that the number of Olympic-related domain name (ODN) registrations increased concurrently with the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Furthermore, we discovered a substantial increase in the number of ODNs used for malicious websites just before the games. Many ODNs related to the regional nature of each game were acquired, and several ODNs required close attention from a security perspective.