Having some friends over to watch the game and wish you had a new big screen to view it on? Perhaps you just need to think bigger … say consider hosting the next FIFA World Cup.
As part of its extensive sponsorship, Philips is supplying more than 10,000 flat panel TVs along with DVD players and audio equipment to the media centres, host broadcasting operations, hospitality villages and other venues to be used for the upcoming Germany-based tournament.
At a media event in Sydney this week, Harry van Dyk, CEO of Philips Electronics Australia joked — well, we think he was joking — that so many TVs were going to the World Cup that there might be a shortage of units in the Australian retail channel.
![Philips Foosball event 2](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/38875553d786ed0cef4c433d58ba46bdd455f440/hub/2006/09/02/4e62b58f-cc2e-11e2-9a4a-0291187b029a/Philips_foosball_1.jpg?auto=webp&width=270)
And for really, really big screen viewing, Philips is also supplying giant public LED viewing screens, or Vidiwalls, in all 12 host cities as well as at three stadiums.
Other Philips technology in evidence at the FIFA World Cup includes RFID chips embedded into all 3.2 million tickets to prevent counterfeiting and fraud; lighting systems in eight of the stadiums; and Philips HeartStart defibrillators at every stadium (not sure whether they’re expecting more players or spectators to have heart attacks, though).
If you’re still hoping to score tickets, try your luck with the competition on Philips online 2006 FIFA World Cup “Preparation Centre”.