Axis networks cameras were recently installed at the Rose Bowl (no, not the home of the mighty USC Trojans, but rather the stadium that fields England's famed Hampshire County Cricket club). Folks, cricket is a big deal. In fact, it ranks just behind soccer (or futbol) as the second most popular sport in the world. And cricket matches at the Rose Bowl draw large crowds. In order to properly monitor those crowds, and to protect facility and those within it, the stadium's surveillance system has been upgraded with Axis IP cameras and video servers.

When the 2008 Olympic Games roll in to Beijing this summer, PTZ dome cameras from Vicon Industries will be part of an integrated video surveillance system to monitor Beijing National Stadium. The brand new venue will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games along with a variety of athletic events. The stadium seats 91,000. There is a great deal of pressure on Olympic officials to provide a safe environment for the Summer Games and video surveillance will play a significant role in that effort.

Little Rock Arkansas is putting its new downtown video network to the test this weekend when the NCAA men's basketball tournament rolls into town. The system, which has been set up to monitor downtown businesses, will help to secure the area when an estimated 30,000 visitors flock Alltel Arena this weekend for a taste of March Madness.

The Summer Olympics will be here again, in just four months. The 2008 Summer Olympics - three weeks of sweat, torn muscles, and teary-eyed athletes singing along to foreign national anthems - will be happening on Chinese soil for the first time ever this year, and security is a key concern for both organizers and athletes alike.

Last week's Boston Marathon was not only a showcase for world-class runners, it also offered up a great opportunity for wireless IP surveillance to work its magic. This year's marathon attracted over 20,000 runners and upwards of one million spectators. In order to help provide event and crowd control, and to protect the city from potential threats during this large event, a temporary, wireless video surveillance system was deployed and linked to state and local public safety agencies. The surveillance solution included Axis PTZ network cameras operating across an Integrated Wireless Surveillance System powered by Strix Systems Edge wireless mesh technology.

Every June, about 300,000 baseball fans flock to Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series. Each game draws 23,000 spectators to Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, where visual security is provided by Arecont Vision IP cameras. With so many people shuffling through the stadium, security is always a concern. The Arecont Vision surveillance cameras help to provide comprehensive views of the facility, and can detect and provide visual evidence of any disturbances.

Canberra Stadium, an international sports venue located in Australia's capitol city, recently upgraded from an analog surveillance system to a high definition IP-based system that employs Avigilon megapixel network cameras. The new Avigilon high definition system monitors patrons and improves the overall level of safety throughout the venue by providing operators with comprehensive views and detailed images of critical areas.

Along with pulling off a surprising march to the AFC East division title, the Miami Dolphins’ successful football season also included an upgrade to their stadium surveillance system. The Dolphins recently deployed an IP-based video security system to monitor Dolphin Stadium. The system features IP video products from GE Security, and is used to protect and enhance the game-day experience of the 900,000 fans who pass through the gates during the regular season, playoffs, and other large events held at the venue each year.

Another fabled football franchise has jumped on the IP surveillance wagon. Last week we told you about the new IP camera installation at Dolphins Stadium. Now comes word that Lambeau Field, home of the legendary Green Bay Packers, is also upgrading its video surveillance system. The new IP-based solution includes Panasonic PTZ network cameras and existing analog cameras operating as part of an integrated video security system. The cameras are managed with NUUO IP video software.

Dragao Stadium, home to Portugal's FC Porto football club (some of you might call it soccer), has decided to implement a new IP-based surveillance system to enhance stadium security for staff and visitors. The stadium has a capacity of 51,000 seats and has been known to host some pretty large-scale events, including the 2004 European Football Championships. The system features a large network of Sony IP cameras which provide 24-hour surveillance inside and outside the stadium.

Anyone whose ever attended a college football knows that emotions can run high, both on the field and in the stands. While the players are trained to rough each other up, the fans are expected to express their feeling via clapping and well-timed comedic heckles. Any acts of violence in the bleachers are of course uncalled for. Unfortunately, these things happen. The combination of alcohol and manic fanaticism does lead to the occasional fight and confrontation. So what can stadium security crews do to prevent such outbursts? Some are turning to high-tech video surveillance systems.

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are underway in Vancouver, and like any big event that draws large crowds, security is a key concern. Of course when you're talking about the Olympic Games, it's not just one big crowd on one day, it's an entire world of fans invading Vancouver and the surrounding region for weeks on end. To better protect the various Olympic venues, Panasonic has provided a range of IP security products, including network cameras from the company's popular i-Pro series.

Parma's Ennio Tardini Stadium, home of the Parma Football Club, hosts soccer matches and other high-level sporting events that draw large crowds throughout the year. In order to maintain a high level of security for the spectators and workers who enter its gates, the stadium requires a comprehensive video surveillance system. Recently the existing surveillance system was expanded to include Axis HDTV network cameras. A hybrid solution featuring both IP cameras and analog cameras connected to video encoders was already in place, but the system needed an upgrade to ensure total coverage.

This September, the University of Louisville is opening up a state-of-the-art basketball arena deliciously dubbed "The KFC Yum! Center." Despite its amusing name, this is truly a first-class facility, from design and layout all the way to its video security system. Currently there are 106 IP network cameras monitoring the arena, with an additional 40 security cameras providing coverage of the parking garage. Almost all of the IP cameras operate using Power over Ethernet for flexible installation anywhere along the network infrastructure. And to save bandwidth and storage space, the cameras utilize H.264 video compression.

The Rose Bowl, home of Hampshire Cricket is upgrading their video surveillance system with Sony High Definition IP video cameras. With a capacity for over 20,000 cricket fans on match days, the Rose Bowl needed a video surveillance solution that would help streamline their security system. The stadium will be using 14 Sony SNC-RH164 HD Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras as well as 8 fixed HD Sony SNC-CH140 cameras to monitor the internal and external grounds of the stadium.