Spectators lining the Mall were able to see the show at close quarters via a series of six delay rigs, supplied by CT Screenco, with a further three designed into Mark Fisher's massive stage set. Commissioned by production manager Robbie Williams, of RWP Ltd, the big screen specialists supplied three Barco DLite 7 stage displays, in 16:9 aspect ratio. The large upstage centre screen, measuring 9.8m x 5.4m, provided the centre-piece at the back of the enormous stage for the VIP's and television audience, with two flanking D7 screens, each measuring 7.4 x 4m, pointing up and down the Mall.
The delay screens on the Mall consisted of a combination of four new Lighthouse 19mm LED daylight displays, commandeered from CT Screenco's Dutch based sister company, JVR, enhanced by a pair of 25mm 18sq.m displays - all configured in 4:3 aspect ratio to maximize the i-mag facility. Among the other artists performing were James Brown, Ozzy Osbourne, Emma Bunton and Will Young.
CT Screenco also supplied a three-camera PPU to provide coverage of the warm-up and closing acts not covered by the BBC transmission crew. Sister company, Presteigne Broadcast Hire, provided the equipment and technical support, which grew in complexity in the run up to the event to include multiple hard disk playback, three channels of graphics, including both Aston and Powerpoint systems, along with the facility to show live off air coverage of such things as the rain at Wimbledon and the progress of the flame on its journey around London.
Avesco's business development director, Dave Crump, said: "The idea was that during the afternoon we were able to show coverage of other live sporting events and some of the other Flame activities in London as they happened. The guys from Presteigne really rose to the challenge."
Final elements in the mix were a four-screen multi-channel press monitoring system install in nearby Lancaster House and a number of plasma displays in the artist hospitality and press areas. Stuart Young project managed the event for CT Screenco, with Blue Leach directing the cameras and Matt Lewns of Presteigne vision engineering. An exhausted Crump commented after the event: "All of the crew were fantastic; in total we had about a dozen people on site and they all worked long and hard to make this happen. The Mall is one of the best but toughest venues to work - the sheer distances one walks in the course of a day is sufficient to wear most people out."
Other contractors included site management in the hands of Unusual Services, Stageco (stage), Power Logistics (power), Arena (seating) Neg Earth (lights) and Brit Row for the enormously complex sound system
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
