114 replies to this topic

[paul92]

The Paralympics return home on 29th August.

(Wikipedia): The Paralympics have grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to become one of the largest international sport events by the early 21st century.

Some information on the ceremony was released in May and describes the event as "spectacular and deeply human at the same time"

Do we know any more about the ceremony? Will Mr Bean return, will Mary Poppins once again save the day or will Voldemort finally beat the sick children on those illuminated beds...

[runningrings]

I'm curious to what we might see at the Paralympics Opening - I have a deep feeling the mainstream might prefer it over the actual Olympic opening depending on how it plays its cards. Who's the director? Will they be using the same cauldron, but with less petals? Or is it an entirely new cauldron?

[paul92]

Well in previous Olympics/Paralympics - anyone know if they have used the same cauldron?

From what I've read it seems to be more 'artsy' - with this acrobatics.
So people who liked that boring drawing scene from Beijing Olympic OC may like it.

[hiroamorim]

and the cauldron?

do you think they will follow the same in the olympics?

[Juso]

IN previous paralympics the existing cauldrons are usually used, they're method of lighting is usually more modest or different.

In Sydney the same cauldron was used, but due to its height in the stands and the waterfall and hydraulics being replaced by seating during the olympics it could not be lit the same way as the games.. instead it was symbolically lit from a cauldron in the centre of the field.

In athens I recall the cauldron dipped the same way as the olympics. In Beijing they had an extraordinary wheelchair athelete who pulled himself all the way up to the cauldron on a rope (amazing to watch). In vancouver they only used the central column of the internal cauldron, and lit the external cauldron the same way as the olympics.

[Juso]

The problem in London is the nature of the disassembly of the cauldron.

I guess either they could have a smaller one to count all the countries participating in the paralympics (as im sure people on this forum have suggested, or possibly they may keep only the petals on those countries on the existing cauldron (might look a bit weird). Either way I doubt it will be moving, ie retracting, it will be in its final position and static.

[runningrings]

I just got thinking about who is going to light it after reading this article:
http://www.telegraph...yball-team.html

You have got to admit, a 2012 Paralympic athlete who lost their legs the day after London won 2012 is surely a frontrunner.

[Lord David]

IN previous paralympics the existing cauldrons are usually used, they're method of lighting is usually more modest or different.

In Sydney the same cauldron was used, but due to its height in the stands and the waterfall and hydraulics being replaced by seating during the olympics it could not be lit the same way as the games.. instead it was symbolically lit from a cauldron in the centre of the field.

In athens I recall the cauldron dipped the same way as the olympics. In Beijing they had an extraordinary wheelchair athelete who pulled himself all the way up to the cauldron on a rope (amazing to watch). In vancouver they only used the central column of the internal cauldron, and lit the external cauldron the same way as the olympics.

Umm... nope.

[Juso]

Fair enough, I stand corrected.

Come to think of it, its makes sense because when the fireworks were used in torino to light the cauldron, I felt like I had seen it done before.

Thanks for the video, I loved the tree in that ceremony.

[Brekkie Boy]

Athens did the "firework" lighting much better than Torino though - they could just about argue the flame ignited the process, clearly not the case with Torino. IIRC Sydney was lit in similar fashion too.

If London's cauldron is reused I wouldn't be surprised if it is in it's "final" place throughout the ceremony and lit in rather routine fashion.