The organizers were keen to make the events and official ceremonies at the Games the best ever. They hired Australian producer and director David Atkins, who put on the opening ceremony at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Atkins banked on the expertise of the same team of worldwide-active laser specialists from Bochum, Germany, who had made impressive contributions to the opening ceremonies at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2006 Paralympics in Turin to come up with some attention-getting laser sequences.
Preparations for the opening, victory, and closing ceremonies, which went on for 15 months, took place under the strictest secrecy. Following a reconnaissance visit to Vancouver and rehearsals conducted on a test setup in the company's own facilities, tarm Showlaser's three-man team was ready to roll three weeks before the opening ceremony, which allowed them plenty of time to install their equipment on site, add the final touches to its programming, and conduct rehearsals before the deadline. A total of four tons of laser equipment was air freighted to Vancouver for the ceremonies.
tarm Showlaser's managing director, Ralf Lottig comments: "It is a great honour to be selected to put on a laser show at the official Olympics ceremonies for the third time. This was surely this year's most sought-after laser-show job, worldwide."
(Jim Evans)
