Olympus Supports New Boy Scouts of America Scuba Diving Merit Badge

Fort A.P. Hill, Va. -- July 26, 2010 -- Olympus Imaging America Inc., a leading manufacturer of digital cameras, voice recorders, binoculars and underwater photography equipment will join the Boy Scouts of America, one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth-development organizations, in celebrating its 100th anniversary at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. The jamboree is July 26 to August 4 at the 76,000-acre Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. More than 40,000 Scouts and leaders are expected to attend.

The national Scout jamboree provides an opportunity for Boy Scouts to hone their outdoor expertise, expand their leadership experiences and interact with inspiring professionals who have careers that coincide with the Boy Scouts of America’s core values. Scouts will glean inspiration and motivation from John McGuire, senior product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. McGuire lives and breathes the innovative products he promotes. Along with his marketing role at Olympus, he is also a professional scuba diver and outdoor enthusiast. He will be on-site, armed with the most rugged outdoor products from Olympus, including the Stylus Tough series of shockproof, waterproof, crushproof, and freezeproof cameras; underwater housings; and trail-ready binoculars—perfect for any adventure.

“Olympus is not just my career—it’s my lifestyle,” McGuire said. “We are honored to participate in an event that so closely aligns with the philosophy of our brand. Both Olympus and the Boy Scouts of America support education and mentoring of young people about core values and environmental awareness.”

Last December, the Boy Scouts of America introduced the Scuba Diving merit badge. To earn this badge, Scouts are required to become fully certified in open-water scuba diving. For Olympus, this involvement in education also encompasses underwater photography. At the national Scout jamboree, Scouts will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of Olympus outdoor products on display.

“We hope our presence at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree will inspire Scouts to earn the Scuba Diving merit badge,” McGuire said. “Better diving skills are a great foundation to becoming an underwater photographer. We remain committed to a comprehensive approach to underwater education: training, marine environment issues and scholarship programs. We have a lot of knowledge to share.”

ABOUT THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 20, 1.1 million volunteers, and nearly 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

More information about 100 Years of Scouting can be found at www.scouting.org/100years.

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets.

Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhances people’s lives every day. These include:

• Digital cameras

• Professional and consumer interchangeable lens system cameras

• Related underwater products and accessories

• Digital and microcassette recorders

• Digital media

• Binoculars

Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information, visit: www.olympusamerica.com.