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China spent approximately $70 billion for the Olympic Games, to transform Beijing into an Olympic city. It was the costliest extravaganza in Olympic history.
In her novel Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand used the phrase “the incredible lightness of being” to describe that ingrained human emotion which recognizes a right and just act. She also used it to describe humankind’s achievements, saying it described our enduring desire to reach, build and accomplish.
This year’s 2008 Summer Olympic Games bring Rand’s words to mind. We saw record-smashing athletes; powerful telecommunication technologies; innovative, “green” construction technologies; and most notable to electric signmakers – the incredible light(ness) of Beijing.
Surely, never before, has such imagination and creation been applied to illumination, displays and signage for the Olympic Games’ opening and closing ceremonies. Experienced “LEDvocates,” myself included, expected spectacular displays, but the ultimate views – millions of LEDs, programmed to shimmer and dance – truly exceeded most viewers’ expectations.
The number “8” is lucky for the Chinese, states Onlinechinese-astrology.com. It says citizens pay extra to have the number in their phone numbers or license-plate symbols, and that August 8, 2008 – 08/08/08 – is a very lucky number; thus, for them, it was the best day to begin the Olympics.
On that day, at the $423 million “Bird’s Nest,” China’s new National Stadium (said to be the world’s largest steel structure), more than 90,000 spectators – world leaders included – accompanied by a worldwide audience of (potentially) four billion television viewers, were awed by the actions of 15,000 performers. LED-illuminated drumsticks grasped by 2,008 drummers beat a rhythm while LED-embellished dancers flowed across a latticed blanket of 44,000 LED lamps embedded across the expansive field. Few viewers recognized the technological achievements of this opening event, which was directed by Zhang Yimou, China’s most celebrated film director.
Also notable were the outsized, white (LED) Olympic rings, the logo, on a field of blue. And, although dwarfed by other systems, 10-ft. 2-in.-tall, red channel letters, illuminated with PolyBrite Intl’s (Naperville, IL) Borealis modular, LED lighting system, identified the stadium’s primary entry ways. Beijing’s Trycool Logo and Sign Products Co. built and installed the letters.
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