by Chad Kunimoto, Panasonic
The Olympic Games need no introduction: they are the international showcase of peak athletic performance competitions. Audiences around the world tune in to see their favourite athlete perform, and to witness the ever more spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies unfolding.
As technology evolves, so do the demands of the audience. Not only do they want to see the performances, but they also want to feel as though they are part of it. Even from the comfort of their living rooms on the other side of the world.
Panasonic is proud to have a long-standing partnership with the Olympic Games. Our Olympic journey began 33 years ago with the Olympic Winter Games Calgary 1988. It has since continued from there as we support operations as one of ‘The Olympic Partnersʼ(TOP).
This important partnership aligns the motto of the Olympic Movement, “A peaceful and better world through sport”, with our management philosophy, “A Better Life, A Better World”, and our goal to “devote ourselves to the well-being of people through our business activities”. This is a driving force in our innovation.
Rising to the challenge
Research, development and innovation have always been at the heart of Panasonic’s mission. And rising to the challenge of the ever-moving goals posts of the Olympics is one of the many driving forces behind our advances. These are applied to all areas of the themed entertainment sector, delivering never-seen-before immersive experiences to audiences around the world and bringing to life the storyboards and ideas of creators and content designers.
Using technology to bring a story together within the constraints of the venue is always a key consideration.
When it comes to the Olympics, there is no room for mistakes. There is no second take of a race and no room to miss a critical moment. This means that the equipment has to be 100% reliable and capable of meeting the challenges of the environment, whilst not interfering with the event itself.
Because the Olympics, Paralympics, and the Olympic Winter Games move around the world, each location also has unique challenges. For example, the high heat and humidity at Rio 2016 in Brazil or the biting cold winds at PyeongChang 2018 in Korea. This creates the ultimate test of reliability in the harshest environments and a need for exceptional teamwork to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
To get a better understanding of how we rise to the occasion to overcome difficulties, let’s take a look at PyeongChang 2018 and the evolution of technology and operations for that event.
PyeongChang 2018: Solutions supplied through high-brightness Panasonic laser projectors
At PyeongChang 2018, Panasonic supplied projectors with newly enhanced technology, setting a new standard at the time for high brightness laser projectors with the WUXGA 31,000-lumen PT-RZ31K and the 4K+ 27,000-lumen PT-RQ32K.
Prior to these laser projectors, Panasonics projectors were 20,00 lumen, lamp-based, and required frequent lamp replacement. For a large-scale event, many reserves had to be ready to go. This also required a large maintenance team on hand to keep everything running smoothly.
The change to laser-based projectors signalled a great advance in technology with higher brightness and no need to replace bulbs. The projector units also became smaller making it possible to project brighter than ever images with fewer units. Plus, the smaller size facilitated installation making them more adaptable to the venueʼs constraints.
The Organising Committees ceremony director, Jaco Oh, was extremely impressed with the performance of the projectors.
Centralized asset management of multiple projectors
PyeongChang 2018 required Panasonic 154 projectors to be installed. Due to the nature of the event, these were spread out over the different venues, from the main stadium to remote mountain venues.
Keeping track of the function of so many units is a challenge. Even more so when they are spread over several satellite venues. To ensure smooth running without the need for a large team, Panasonic developed a multi-unit surveillance system for PyeongChang 2018. This enabled the operators to watch and control each device from a single central location, ensuring an effective trouble-free operation.
High durability under harsh conditions
PyeongChang 2018 was particularly cold in comparison to other previous host venues, meaning the extreme temperatures created another technology challenge.
Panasonic supplied over 1000 professional displays for PyeongChang 2018. Outdoor competition venues used the TH-47LFX60 outdoor signage systems. These robust displays operated in a stable fashion despite the harsh conditions, providing footage and information without compromising on image quality.
The IPS panels, with high brightness and a wide viewing angle, provide a clear image even in an outdoor setting.
NHK 8K theatre at the IBC
Media is a huge part of any international sporting event and, of course, the Olympics is no exception.
As part of the media support inside the IBC, there was an NHK 8K theatre. This used four Panasonic PT-RQ32K laser projectors with 4K+ resolution to create blended 8K video. The theatre showcased key moments and highlights to the media in ultra-high definition, which was praised by NHK representations as the best quality 8K available at the time.
Inspiring people around the world with state-of-the-art technology
The successes with these Panasonic video technologies at PyeongChang 2018 mark just another step on the continuous journey.
Even while one event is still ongoing, planning and development for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games are already underway. While the athletes were still competing in 2018, behind the scenes technical development had already begun for Tokyo 2020.
At the time Yusuke Yamamoto, a lead engineer of Connected Solutions Company,
Panasonic Corporation explained:
“We have already started work toward Tokyo 2020. Panasonic’s strengths are high reliability and ease of both installation and operation. We will build on these to create more new products that will amaze you – so look out for them!”
The next article will continue exploring Panasonic’s Olympic journey. It will take us to the Tokyo 2020 Games with further technological breakthroughs. Following this will be a look ahead to Paris 2024 which is already under development.
To find out more about Panasonic’s work with the Olympics, please click here.
Images copyright IOC – All Rights Reserved.
