Panasonic 3D cameras will cover the London 2012 Olympics

THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS will be the first ever broadcast in 3D, Panasonic announced at IFA in Germany today.

Panasonic has partnered with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to produce the first HD 3D live broadcasts in Olympic history.

The 3D broadcasts will include major events such as the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, gymnastics, diving and swimming, and will be produced and delivered to participating broadcasters around the world.

OBS will be in charge of producing more than 200 hours of 3D coverage during the London 2012 Olympic Games using Panasonic's 3D production technologies including the AG-3DP1, a P2HD professional, fully-integrated, twin-lens full HD 3D camera recorder.

Panasonic managing executive officer, Takumi Kajisha said, "The Olympic Games has always been a pioneer in the development of TV broadcasting technologies, and has been on the cusp of innovation since the first live over-the-air broadcast was introduced in London 1948. Panasonic has been proud to support the Olympic Host Broadcaster since the first digital broadcast in Barcelona 1992, right through to the first HD broadcast in Beijing 2008.

"Now we are proud to announce the partnership with the IOC and OBS to create another successful era in Olympic broadcasting with the first live 3D Olympic Games at London 2012. There is no doubt that the Olympic Games will provide some of the best content for the 3D market in the future, and that 3D TV will drastically change the way we experience this great sporting event in our living rooms."

"For the past two decades, Panasonic has been a valued partner of the Olympic Movement and of the Host Broadcasting organisation," said Manolo Romero, MD of OBS. "We are now proud to announce this partnership to realize the first ever live 3D Olympic Games, and we are confident that this unprecedented broadcast will be a great success in no small part due to the 3D technologies provided by Panasonic. Ultimately, we believe this production of the first live 3D Olympic Games will make the London 2012 Olympic Games one of the most significant in the history of broadcasting technology." µ