Christie projects dynamic visual effects at Olympics opening ceremony

12 August 2008

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Beijing, China - Visuals for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games were projected with the Christie Roadster S+20K and Christie CP2000-ZX projectors. The ceremony was held on 8 August 2008 in the Beijing National Stadium and featured the most complex and extensive use of projected visuals in the history of the sporting event.
“This is the first time that we have used such a massive number of projectors for the opening ceremony - a combination of approximately 150 Christie Roadster S+20K and Christie CP2000-ZX models, with brightness levels up to 20,000 ANSI lumens,” said Sha Xiaolan, chief lighting designer of the Olympics opening and closing ceremony committee.
“As the projected visuals played a pivotal role in the opening ceremony, the visual solution was also the most extensive and complicated in the history of the games. Christie projectors maintained their excellent performance and reliability from day one of the rehearsal, right through to the live event.”
The three-and-a-half-hour opening ceremony included four parts: opening addresses; performances; entrance of athletes; and lighting of the main flame. Centered on the theme of civilization and harmony, the extravagant performances were designed by renowned film director, Zhang Yimou, and aimed to convey the “conception of harmony from an international perspective.”
In order to uphold the artistic integrity and complex design elements for the show, the projection technology needed to endure rugged use, as well as high temperature and humidity levels.
In addition, 84 Christie Roadster S+20K 3-chip DLP projectors were provided for the spectator area in the newly constructed Beijing National Stadium. These bright projectors, outputting 20,000 ANSI lumens, are the de facto standard for rental/staging with a rugged design for durability and ease of operation.
Christie projectors will also be used for the closing ceremony on 24 August 2008 as well as the Beijing 2008 Paralympics opening and closing ceremony on 6 and 17 September 2008 respectively.