Philips and the 2006 FIFA World Cup

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Philips has exclusive sponsorship rights in the categories of Consumer Electronics, Lighting, Domestic Appliances and Defibrillators, as well as non-exclusive rights for RFID (Semiconductors). The company is further supporting the FIFA World Cup™ through a broad range of activities, including the creation of giant public viewing screens in all 12 host cities, the provision of 10,000 FlatTVs for use in media, broadcasting and the official hospitality villages located in each host city, and the supply of HeartStart, Philips innovative, easy to use defibrillator, at selected match venues. This is in addition to the provision of stadium lighting in eight of the 12 sites, the deployment of a Philips RFID solution in all 3.2 million 2006 FIFA World Cup™ tickets to significantly enhance security and the provision of Philips Vidiwalls inside selected stadia.

'Our aim is not just to sponsor the FIFA World Cup™ but to enhance the event for every fan, whether inside the stadium, in a host city or watching a match at home. Philips aim is simply to create a more powerful FIFA World Cup™ experience,'

said Louis Hakim, CEO, Philips Middle East.

'For example, there will be an estimated 10,000 fans watching the game on TV for every fan in a stadium. For this reason, Philips has been working with FIFA to ensure that the home viewing experience is as memorable as possible. We have been actively involved in making 2006 the first occasion on which a global event is host broadcast entirely in high definition (HDTV) as well as in wide screen (16:9) format.'

Philips in and around the stadium

ArenaVision Stadium Lighting
Philips Lighting is the world's number 1 in lighting solutions and is used in 55% of all the world's football stadia. Its advanced ArenaVision solution is installed in eight of the 12 stadia for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ - Cologne, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart - and includes a total of 1,938 Philips lamps.

ArenaVision was the world's first sports-lighting system specifically designed to increase dramatically the theatrical and emotional values of sports for TV audiences, spectators and players alike. The unique color quality and brilliance of ArenaVision are combined with decreased spill-light and glare to create a more exciting stadium atmosphere and television experience.

In understanding the needs of its customers and designing a system around these requirements, Philips created ArenaVision, which has become the world's most popular choice for floodlighting.

The unique, oval shape of the new ArenaVision floodlights is the result of Philips optical researchers who have established that a precisely engineered oval reflector shape provides maximum light gathering capacity with a minimum surface area. The oval shape and design of the cast-aluminium housing means less windage and drag compared to conventional floodlights, enabling architects to use slimmer masts and therefore more imaginative design strategies in any stadium.

As a complete system maker, Philips is the only manufacturer to provide all relevant technologies for outdoor floodlighting, ensuring that all components work in synergy.

Vidiwalls and Giant Viewing Screens

Philips Vidiwall technology is being deployed widely at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. The large LED screens are being used to provide giant public viewing opportunities during the run-up to and during the four week competition. Located in major sites accessible to the general public, Philips Vidiwalls are to be installed in all 12 host cities (Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Hanover, Kaiserslautern, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart). A further three Vidiwalls are already installed inside stadia as the main stadium screens in Cologne, Frankfurt and Gelsenkirchen.

Philips LED video screens are designed to provide optimum image quality over an exceptionally long lifetime, supported by an expert team of engineers. LED video screens are easy to maintain and have a particularly low cost of ownership. With a choice in pixel pitch from 10 to 64 millimeters, the outdoor screens are available from 5m² to 500m² or larger. The screens produce an extremely sharp image, suitable for viewing from far and near, and in all kinds of weather conditions.

Philips invented the world's first video wall in 1984; since then the company's specialist engineers have installed screens in many high-profile locations around the world.

HeartStart Defibrillator

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) affects millions of people worldwide each year and central to surviving such an episode is the speed with which initial treatment can be given. Research from the USA suggests that successful resuscitation following an SCA decreases by about 10% with every minute that passes.

Philips addresses the issue of providing treatment as rapidly as possible through its HeartStart automated defibrillator, which will currently be used in two stadia during the FIFA World Cup™ and Philips is exploring ways to expand this to all stadia.

HeartStart has been designed to ensure that its advanced, lifesaving technology can be used by individuals with no medical training. It provides clear voice instructions to talk the user through each step, enabling resuscitation to take place rapidly.

At the core of HeartStart Defibrillators is SMART Biphasic technology. The HeartStart Defibrillator's biphasic waveform delivers a highly effective defibrillation shock that is also gentle to the heart. No other external defibrillation therapy has been supported by more published clinical data. SMART Analysis, a proven Philips technology for heart rhythm assessment, ensures that the defibrillator only shocks when it should. SMART Analysis automatically assesses the victim's heart rhythm and is designed not to deliver a shock unless the rhythm is determined to be shockable - even if the shock button is pressed.

HeartStart is powered by a simple, long-life (four-year) battery. Between uses, the defibrillator performs daily, weekly, and monthly self-tests of its electrical components, subsystems, and battery to help ensure continued reliability and readiness.

Philips RFID chip technology for contactless ticketing

All entry tickets for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ feature RFID-Chips (Radio Frequency Identification). Philips is advising the local organization committee on the use of this technology, as the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ will be using an electronic admission control system. This system is based on Philips MIFARE technology, the industry standard in contactless smart cards. RFID is a high-frequency radio technology that turns tiny little chips into transmitters and receivers, enabling contactless exchange of data. All a fan attending a match needs to do is wave their entry ticket in front of a scanner to enter the stadium.

RFID technology is designed to provide greater security and fraud protection. Philips RFID chips were also used in tickets for the FIFA Confederations Cup, and the technology is already being implemented in local traffic services in cities such as London and Moscow, and even in Hanau.