The event was highlighted by a spectacular 'Super Bowl' video display show in the centre of the stadium that provided a magical experience for those in attendance. In addition to Barco's role in the opening ceremony, Barco products are being deployed by both Color Lighting and Creative Technology throughout the Games.
The Friday opening ceremony of the Games was presided by People's Republic of China President Hu Jintao and attended by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge. The All China Games will feature 33 sports and 360 disciplines with the majority of competition taking place in some 17 cities across Shandong.
To help bring the opening ceremony of the National Games vibrantly to life, Barco was selected as a visual solutions provider for the much-celebrated, highly watched event. The selection was based on the company's ability to provide advanced products and solutions whose signature is superior visual effects that widely outperform other industry brands.
Color Lighting, one of China's top lighting production companies, is serving as the exclusive lighting supplier for the Games, including design, production, implementation and complete service. Color Lighting selected Creative Technology as their projection and video consultant and technical partner for specialist video content delivery.
For the Games' opening ceremony, one large cylindrical display screen in the centre of the Olympic stadium was the highlight. The screen measured 50m in diameter with a total height of 26m, and initially appeared as an illuminated bowl. During the ceremony, with no less than 52 special effects, glowing peace doves descended into the stadium from its perimeter and dramatically lifted the bowl into the air.
It was at this point that the bowl was revealed as a massive circular projection screen, completely dazzling onlookers. Barco solutions deployed during the opening ceremony included 48 XLM HD30 projectors used for projection on the stadium's 'Super Bowl screen; with an additional eight DML-1200 luminaires for dynamic projection.
"In an era of visually expansive events, today's producers continually seek out new and more dynamic ways to engage and entertain audiences," says Zhao Gang, executive general director of the Opening Ceremony. "More and more, creative direction and conceptual ideas tend to exceed the limitations of traditional lighting solutions, and lighting engineers find themselves challenged to realize clients' grand visions. Barco, as the industry's premier visual solutions provider, remains on the cutting edge of new technologies, continually surpassing the limitations of traditional lighting sources. What they've helped us achieve in the China Games' opening ceremony is nothing short of breathtaking."
(Jim Evans)
