Sponsor Spotlight -- Panasonic Equipment; Extra Russian Trains; IOC Rights

Panasonic Delivers Equipment

Panasonic delivered the Audio Video equipment to be used at the Sochi 2014 Olympics to the organizing committee.

Panasonic supplied Sochi 2014 with LED large screen displays, audio systems, broadcasting equipment, projectors, VIERA TVs, and visual communication equipment.

The equipment will be used in competition venues and behind the scenes by the IOC, the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, and the Olympic Broadcasting Service. Panasonic with the OBS will record the Opening Ceremony for the first time.

Extra Trains to Adler

Russian Railways will add extra long-distance trains going to Adler in preparation for the Olympics.

Extra trains will travel from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Samara and Chelyabinsk making 56 extra trips to Adler.

The Krasnodar to Adler route will also begin running daily from February 6 to 22.

Reserve trains will be available just in case passenger demand exceeds output.

IOC Sells Caribbean Rights

The IOC sold the broadcast rights for Sochi 2014 in the Caribbean to International Media Content Ltd.

IMC acquired free-to-air English broadcast rights, but not internet and mobile rights for the Olympics.

Over 20 countries will be served through the agreement.

"This agreement is another step in ensuring the universality of the Olympic Games," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

"Having worked with IMC to broadcast both the Vancouver and London Games, we are very pleased to be able to rely on their expertise once again in Sochi."

McDonald’s Social Media

McDonald’s announced the launch of its social media campaign for the upcoming Olympics on Tuesday.

Using the hashtag #CheersToSochi, fans will be able to send well wishes to athletes and teams competing in the Winter Games. Competitors can see the messages at a display in the Sochi athletes village, where they can also print them onto ribbons to wear on their wrists. Some athletes will tweet appreciation back to their fans as well.

"This Olympic experience gives fans the ability to make personal connections with athletes in Sochi in a way they’ve never had before," said Steve Easterbrook, an executive with the fast food giant which has been an Olympic partner for 38 years.

U.S. hockey player Patrick Kane, Canadian hockey player Drew Doughty, and U.S. speed skater Shani Davis are among the athletes supporting the campaign.

Written by Aaron Bauer and Nick Devlin

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