Free-Viewpoint Video for Outdoor Sporting Events

When traditional fixed-viewpoint video of an event is rendered, the only viewpoint available for playback is that of the camera that recorded the event. Free-viewpoint video (FVV) attempts to break this restriction by allowing the specification of the viewpoint at the point of rendering rather than the point of recording. This work proposes to apply the techniques of FVV to video recorded at outdoor sporting events. Sports often rely on the movement of contestants within a delineated playing area. Cameras are set up to try to get a direct view of the boundaries of these areas, as play here is often crucial to the game. However, as the broadcasters typically have a limited number of cameras, they must try to preempt the locations of interesting boundary events. If they get this wrong they risk missing out on crucial footage and also waste a camera that could have provided another angle for general coverage. Similarly, a great deal of tactical interest in sport relies on the spacial configuration of the competitors, such as the relationship that determines whether a player is offside in football. These relationships are often very difficult to determine unless a camera is specifically placed to highlight the desired relationship. As the configuration of the contestants may become interesting at an arbitrary time and location in the playing area, it is impossible to place cameras accurately to guarantee a good viewpoint. As a result it can often be very difficult, if not impossible, to work out the spacial relationship of the contestants from the broadcast coverage of a sporting