SECAUCUS, N.J., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thanks to Panasonic,
fans of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games have been treated to close-up views of
Olympic competition throughout Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah.  Sixteen
giant Panasonic Astrovision screens -- totaling 650 square meters of video
screen -- have been strategically placed in nine competition venues and four
public areas such as Salt Lake Olympic Square, Washington Square and the
Olympic Medals Plaza, so that visitors to the Salt Lake City area can follow
every breathtaking moment of competition.  In addition, the NBC Astrovision by
Panasonic, in New York's Times Square, has been broadcasting the Games live
every night until 11:00 PM, affording visitors to the "Crossroads of the
World" an opportunity to view the games on a giant screen with closed
captioning.
    Panasonic, a worldwide Olympic sponsor, has been working with the
International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and the
Salt Lake Organizing Committee, to ensure that thousands of fans from all over
the world will be given the opportunity to see games as they happen throughout
Salt Lake City and at crowded venues.
    "In 1998 we placed fourteen screens in Sydney for the summer games and saw
thousands of people gather around them for an afternoon to watch the
competitions," says Bob Greenberg, Panasonic's Vice President for Corporate
Brand Marketing.  "This year we are pleased to continue the tradition of
giving fans from all over the world the chance to enjoy events they weren't
able to get tickets to, or even events with long stretches of track far away
from the spectator."
    Panasonic's 20-millimeter LED Astrovision screens, ranging in size from
20 square meters to 79 square meters, are employed around the globe at major
entertainment and sports venues, including the "NBC Astrovision by Panasonic"
sign in New York City's Times Square, San Francisco's professional baseball
park and Universal CityWalk in Hollywood and Orlando, Florida.

    About Panasonic
    Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, best know for its Panasonic
brand, is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE: MC) of Osaka, Japan, one of the world's largest
producers of innovative electronic and electric products for consumer,
business and industrial use.

Link to this page: