Birmingham 2022 appoints Canon as Official Imaging Supporter to the Commonwealth Games

L-R: Adrian Corcoran, chief information officer, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games; Yuichi Ishizuka, president & CEO, Canon EMEA; Ian Reid, chief executive officer, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games; Mark Hitchman, UK managing director, Canon Medical Systems

Canon has been appointed as the Official Imaging Supporter for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The company will use its imaging expertise to showcase the event and inspire people across the world, while also nurturing a new generation of sports fans.

Through the sponsorship, Canon will demonstrate its full breadth of imaging technology by supporting athletes and organisers with dedicated Canon Professional Services (CPS) support, on-site medical imaging services and printing solutions which will help to bring the Games to life to more than a billion spectators and viewers. CPS will give photographers and broadcasters behind-the-scenes support in capturing every moment of the action.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see around 6,000 athletes from 72 nations and territories compete in 19 sports and eight para-sports across 14 competition venues from 28 July until 8 August 2022. As the biggest event ever to be held in the West Midlands, it is expected to attract more than one million spectators to the city and have a global TV audience of 1.5 billion.

Yuichi Ishizuka, president and CEO of Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “At Canon we have a proud heritage of supporting world-class sporting events, so we are incredibly pleased to be the Official Imaging Supporter to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We believe that imaging can transform our world, and we look forward to using our full-range of innovative technologies to support the welfare of athletes, ensure the smooth running of the Games and inspire sports fans across the globe.”

Canon and Birmingham 2022 are united in their aim to act as a catalyst for change by bringing people together and inspiring younger generations to improve their health and wellbeing. As part of this, Canon will connect with schools and communities in and around the Midlands through its Young People Programme, using the power of sport to inspire a new generation of creatives.

Ian Reid, CEO at Birmingham 2022, said: “We are delighted to have Canon on board as they join us as our Official Imaging Supporter for Birmingham 2022. Canon is a clear leader in imaging technologies and has an enviable pedigree when it comes to sports and leisure events and it is this that makes them the perfect partner to help us deliver a truly memorable edition of the Games.

“As well as inspiring fans and athletes across the world, Canon is using its expertise to work with us on our engagement programme across schools and communities. We are looking forward to working together to embrace and champion the youth, diversity, humanity and pride of the region and the Commonwealth.”

Martin Reynolds, executive director at the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “The Commonwealth Sport Movement is delighted to welcome Canon as the Official Imaging Supporter for Birmingham 2022.

“Their imaging expertise will help capture and showcase the very best of Commonwealth sport and bring to life the inspiring stories across our 72 nations and territories.”