Bringing Olympic Action to Life

Panasonic as a sponsor and supporting partner

Panasonic has also secured the rights to serve as a Live Site Supporting Partner, which will see a total of three large LED screens installed at the official Live Sites located inside the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Parks. The Live Sites are open spaces in the Barra and Deodoro Clusters where visitors can experience the Olympic and Paralympic Games live outside the stadiums. These Live Sites will allow Panasonic's video technologies to share the emotion and excitement of the Olympic sporting events with many more visitors to Rio de Janerio.

Public viewing at the Olympic park

For the first time, Panasonic has also signed a contract to serve as Torch Relay Technology Partner. Thanks to a partnership agreement with Sugarloaf Mountain, a World Heritage site located within the Copacabana area of Rio de Janeiro, the company will supply a range of the latest devices and solutions for use throughout--including large-screen LED displays and signage systems. During the Games, the Stadium of Wonders corporate pavilion at Sugarloaf will have actual Olympic torches on display, with information and video contents about the torch relay supplied as well (open August 7-21, 2016).

At this Stadium of Wonders corporate pavilion, Panasonic will present video contents looking back on over 25 years of history supporting the Olympics, with spatial presentations of unique technologies like light ID technology and transparent screen displays, as well as interactive displays making it possible to experience athletic performances. The Stadium of Wonders will help enliven the Games with AV technology-based entertainment and solutions. It will also serve as a base to strengthen relationship with Olympic officials and partner companies toward future Olympic Games in Pyeongchang and Tokyo.

Stadium of Wonders corporate pavilion

With Neymar Jr., Panasonic's global ambassador

Since 2010, Panasonic has used Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior ("Neymar Jr."), a member of the Brazil national football team, in its global marketing activities. As well as television commercials in countries throughout the world, an online campaign called the Dream "FITA" Project is being promoted in collaboration with Neymar Jr. toward the Rio Olympics and Paralympics. With a FITA, a wish bracelet from Brazil, as the motif, Neymar Jr. supports people who posted their messages on his website to help them realize their dreams. On the website, Neymar Jr. shares his passion and dreams for the Olympics with people around the world, with a communication initiative launched for everyone to share their own dreams.

Around the world

This year sees the return of golf as an official Olympic sport for the first time in 112 years. In Japan, the Panasonic Open was relaunched in Japan in April, while a new initiative saw a Panasonic Open Ladies event held at the same time as part of the LPGA Step Up Tour. Meanwhile, as we move toward the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, a promotional initiative has been launched in Japan under the concept of "Beautiful JAPAN 2020." This is being supported with displays and interactive activities at Panasonic Center Tokyo.

Elsewhere, a range of unique marketing activities are being promoted in various locations around the world. In North America, a message of support to US athletes has been displayed in Times Square, New York. In Europe, a promotional campaign for the latest headphones has been launched featuring the German rowing team and the Belgian sailor Evi van Acker, a bronze medalist at the London Olympics.

Panasonic has signed a worldwide official partnership contract through to 2024, and will continue to support operations at the Olympics as a TOP sponsor with the latest technologies, products, and systems. The company has also signed a worldwide official partnership contract for the Paralympics through to 2020, and will support Paralympic athletes with ongoing initiatives to promote the spread of disabled sports. As ever, Panasonic will contribute to the development of the Olympic movement and help share the passion and emotion of the world's greatest sporting event with people throughout the world.