Getty Images and Fujitsu to capture 70,000 spectators at 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony and produce 20 Gigapixel image

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Richard Heathcote, Chris McGrath and Rob Carr - Getty Images.jpgGetty Images, the official photographic agency to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is partnering with Fujitsu to produce an immense high-resolution image of the opening ceremony.

Spectators to the coveted event will be able to view the image, zoom in, find and then tag themselves in the image, which will be up to 20 Gigapixels in size.

Stuart Hannagan.jpgImages of such a high resolution usually take days to upload but thanks to leading-edge speed and performance of the Fujitsu CELSIUS R920 workstation, the image will be available to view on the Getty Images website overnight – up to 12 times faster than previously possible.

Says Adrian Murrell, senior VP, global editorial, Getty Images: “We are truly excited to be partnering with Fujitsu on this project. The Opening Ceremony Gigapixel image is the result of just one of the new technologies we are embracing, to ensure London 2012 is captured like no other Games. The Games are always synonymous with world records being broken and iconic moments being captured; with over 70,000 people expected at the Opening Ceremony, this image will capture this momentous occasion in innovative, high-resolution detail.

“This ground-breaking image showcases the opportunity available to brands that want to create innovative content that truly engages with the public. Brands that can push the boundaries and offer consumers an enhanced experience will stand out from the crowd. Technology that is able to encapsulate a historic moment in time, not only from a distance but also up close, is an exciting industry evolution and we are honoured to lead the way.”

With an elite roster of award-winning photographers and an unrivalled heritage of capturing both the Olympic Games and other high profile sporting events in London, this will be Getty Images’ 13th consecutive event as the official photographic agency to the IOC.

Pictured top: Getty Images photographers Richard Heathcote, Chris McGrath and Rob Carr

Pictured above: Stuart Hannagan, director of photography and VP Australasia at Getty Images