34 replies to this topic

[cormiermax]

Has it ever rained during an Opening Ceremony? And if not what would happen if it did? Besides Vancouver which was indoors anyway I cant think of an opening ceremony where it rained, but if it ever did I'm sure it would be quite troublesome.

Thoughts?

[Rols O'Bertilsson]

I remember it bucketed down on the Sydney Paralympic OC - and it did cause havoc with some elements like a big pairing they were doing on the field.

Beijing was ready to scramble the air force to break up any incoming clouds, weren't they?

Edited by Don Rolando, 05 October 2011 - 03:24 AM.

[BTHarner]

It rained on the OC at Helsinki in 1952. It was a different era without all the elements of today's ceremonies so it didn't seem to be too much of a problem.

[baron-pierreIV]

Well, not all Official Reports mention the intrusion of rain.

But these are somewhat documented:

1. It snows mostly in ALL Winter Openings. And what is snow but frozen rain?

2. They cut out the SINGING IN THE RAIN number at LA's Opening 2 days before. Does that count?

3. This one's for sure: it rained 1/2 hour before Salt Lake had its countdown--but the show was ready for it. And Torino didn't want to risk the same situation--which is why they went with a no-ice based show, i.e., they used those roller skaters instead of real ice blades.

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Edited by baron-pierreIV, 05 October 2011 - 08:20 AM.

[intoronto1125]

It did during Vancouver!

[baron-pierreIV]

intoronto1125, on 05 October 2011 - 09:53 AM, said:

It did during Vancouver!

Yes, Arun -- but the implication of the question was did it rain enuf during the Ceremony to impact it? U know the rain in Vancouver did NOT impact the OC in any way because all those Vancouverites were wusses, sissies, afraid to get wet in the rain!!

j/k

[RobH]

Not Olympic, but Manchester CWG closing was drenched.

[baron-pierreIV]

RobH, on 05 October 2011 - 12:10 PM, said:

Not Olympic, but Manchester CWG closing was drenched.

Wasn't the Opening even quite soaked?

[mattygs]

baron-pierreIV, on 05 October 2011 - 04:22 PM, said:

Wasn't the Opening even quite soaked?

I don't think so, although they did use human fountains during the final segment.

[Victor Mata]

Well, maybe not the Olympics but the PanAms have a history of bad weather during its ceremonies.

The first case I read about was the opening of the Winnipeg '67 games. It seems the rain affected the instruments of the band but the people didn't mind the all the moisture.

Mar del Plata '95 had its opening badly affected by rain. Thousands of people couldn't get to the stadium for the show and it was unusually empty.

Rio 2007 closing was during a rainy sunday. The country was still mourning the July 17th Air Crash in São Paulo and the flag silently entered Maracanã by the hands of the rescue crew...