Opening/Closing Ceremonies Discussion

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Top-secret test for B.C. Place ceremonies

By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS

Giant images of flames were projected on the inside of B.C. Place Stadium's roof Thursday night in a top-secret test for producers of the 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.

The closed session was so hush-hush that B.C. Place employees were told no cameras, tours or even peeks were allowed.

Humidity, air pressure and temperature were monitored while lasers, computer graphics and smoke machines were tested. A source told 24 hours that the building was full of smoke by the time the session ended late Thursday night. The source said images of flames were at least a couple hundred feet and projected from different angles. An animated octopus was shown swimming on the roof, as were images of Olympic athletes.

Friday night's session was canceled after crews decided they were satisfied with Thursday's results. More than 30 people from several local and foreign lighting, sound, special effects and rigging companies were on an attendees' list. The list included three people from Britain's Creative Technology, which provided imaging for the giant digital scroll that served as the focal point of the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony.

Ceremonies executive producer David Atkins told 24 hours in February that the air-supported fabric roof would play a key role as a screen for large-scale images. He wouldn't comment on whether a giant image of the Olympic flame would solve a dilemma facing VANOC.

B.C. Place will be the first indoor opening ceremony venue in Olympic history.