The BBC confirms 3D plans for London Olympics, 100m men’s final gets the go-ahead

Almost two-and-a-half years ago, the BBC’s Director for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Rogery Mosey, outlined the broadcaster’s vision for the sporting extravaganza, noting its plans to broadcast “every single hour of every sport”, as well as outlining its plans for mobile.

The possibilities of 3D was also floated at the time, and it was finally confirmed last August that some events would indeed be broadcast in 3D. As part of a 3D-trial, the BBC has now confirmed which events they will be:

• The Opening Ceremony
• The Closing Ceremony
• The Men’s 100m final
• A highlights package at the end of each day

The 3D broadcasts will be available to anyone who has a 3D TV, and although the initial offering is limited essentially to one actual live sporting contest – which will last less than 10-seconds – it’s indicative of where the BBC is heading.

“We have always said we believe some of 2012 should be captured in 3D, and we’re delighted to confirm our offer to audiences in the UK, providing them with a new way of getting close to some of the key moments from the London 2012 Olympic Games,” says Kim Shillinglaw, Head of BBC 3D.

Last week we reported on some of the BBC’s other very early-stage experiments in the TV space, including perceptive media. In a nutshell, a TV signal would be sent, as normal, to your set-top box (STB) or TV. The hardware in your livingroom would be able to modify that signal with information about you, to create a personalized version of what you were watching. This is all some years off becoming a reality, however.

The BBC first broadcast in 3D last year, when it showed the Men’s and Ladies’ Finals at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships via the BBC’s HD Channel.

Last month, the BBC launched a new version of its Sports website, as it prepares for a busy year for sport, with the football European Championships also taking place in Poland and the Ukraine.