Japan’s national broadcaster NHK has finalised its plans for covering the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 8K resolution this summer.
The Olympics is set to become the first major sporting event in the world to be live streamed in 8K, and NHK says its coverage will extend to seven sports – athletics, badminton, football, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball. It will also cover both the opening and closing ceremonies, capturing live 8K footage from a helicopter flying overhead, the broadcaster said.
As for the Paralympics, NHK said it intends to cover athletics, badminton, swimming and wheelchair rugby in the superior format. It’ll be the first time the Paralympics has ever been covered in 8K.
“We are preparing the highest standards or broadcast and service for our viewers,” NHK said in a statement.
Of course, NHK’s plans are entirely dependent on the Olympics going ahead in the first place. As coronavirus fears sweep the planet there has been speculation that the biggest sporting event on the calendar this year might have to be canceled or postponed, though the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee both insist the games will go ahead as planned in July.
However, Japan’s Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto admitted last week that the games could still be delayed.
“The contract calls for the Games to be held within 2020,” Hashimoto said. “That could be interpreted as allowing a postponement.”
