2010’s biggest sports events will be filmed in 3D

Virtually no one has the sets yet – and not many more people will next year – but that’s not stopping manufacturers from sending their 3D cameras to some of 2010’s biggest sports events.

Panasonic will film the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver in February, while Sony plans to film the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June and July. Both companies are sponsors of the respective events.

Sony has vowed to have 3D capable sets on the market before the World Cup kicks off – and it’s conceivable (though much less likely) Panasonic will have its sets on market in time for the Opening Ceremonies. That’s immaterial, though. These events aren’t being filmed for the early adopters – they’re being filmed to bring the mass markets into the 3D world.

3D HD TV is an impressive thing to witness – but if the content isn’t eye-popping, the sets won’t sell. Sports is the killer app for these sets – and there’s nothing more grandiose setting than these two events.

I’ve seen a fair bit of footage from 3D sets firsthand – and can verify that movies and TV footage pale to that of live sports. (The opening ceremonies from the Beijing Olympics were particularly stunning.)

Look for both companies to use clips from these as the demo footage when 3D sets begin appearing in stores next year.