Large-scale lighting, sound and video take centre-stage as 2012 Olympics sees its ceremony budget doubled
Dynamic Events 2012, the latest addition to Integrated Systems Europe’s pre-show Conference offering, could not come at a better time for the live technology community. Earlier this month, the UK Government revealed it was doubling its budget for opening and closing ceremonies at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics – providing a gilt-edged business opportunity in exactly the market sector being addressed by the inaugural Conference.
“London’s opening and closing ceremonies are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the very best of our country to four billion people around the world,” comments Hugh Robertson, UK Sports Minister. “To get the ceremonies absolutely right and boost the Games’ business and tourism legacy, we are putting additional investment into our ceremonies.”
Dynamic Events 2012 will capitalise on this opportunity by focusing its attention on the design, implementation and management of the technology infrastructure that drives such ceremonies. Organised by Mondiale Publishing, the Conference takes place on Monday 30 January – the day before ISE 2012 begins – and feature a world-beating array of experienced speakers. Fittingly, the Conference’s keynote speaker will be Ric Birch, Director of Ceremonies at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“Ric Birch is the leading authority on the production of opening and closing ceremonies through having extensive involvement in global events for the past 20 years,” notes Ben Chadwick, Events Manager at Mondiale Publishing. “His extensive knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of one-off spectaculars will provide the Dynamic Events Conference with a hugely entertaining and informative platform to kick-start the day.”
Other confirmed panelists for Dynamic Events read like a who’s who of the live events industry. The audio panel includes Scott Willsallen, who is director and principal consultant of Auditoria, and Gary Hardesty, chief designer and project manager of the Beijing Olympics audio systems.
On the video panel are Lee Spencer, managing director of XL Video; Pod Bluman, project director at Bluman Associates; Ross Ashton, creative director at The Projection Studio; and Cyril Meusy, AV content producer for the Arab Games opening ceremony in Doha, Qatar.
The lighting panel, which will be moderated by Wayne Howell of Artistic Licence, includes Tim Dunn, lighting designer at Gearhouse South Africa; Paul Collison, broadcast lighting consultant for the Beijing Olympics; Durham Marenghi, lighting designer for the Beijing handover ceremony; and Koert Vermeulen of ACT Lighting Design, who was lighting designer for the Singapore Youth Olympics opening ceremony.
“The Conference is aimed at companies and individuals who are involved in major events, and also international organising committees from future game,” Chadwick concludes. “It will provide delegates with an exclusive insight into the production aspects and ground-breaking technology used in these one-off global events, and will feature engaging discussions and presentations that will describe the challenges faced in producing an event that is time-sensitive and a one-off experience which also must incorporate cultural difference. These global events are never produced again, leaving no room for error – and must leave a lasting impression.
“With such a strong schedule and line-up, it’s no surprise that we have already received significant interest for bookings, with our earlybird offer of €199 – which is only available to the first 100 delegates – almost sold out.”
Click here to find out more and register online.
