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The Olympic Cauldron


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Okay, so NBC did another little thing on the Cauldron malfunction at the beginning of the prime time broadcast tonight, and it was the DOOR that wouldn't open, not a malfunction in the leg at all. So why the F*** didn't they just have a production assistant run out and open the goddam thing MANUALLY!!!!! I mean, who cares, I would have rather had that than a missing leg!

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But look at this image:

1442994-8188-atm14.jpg

Isn't from the leftmost hole in the picture that the cauldron leg should've come out?

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2 thots based on the last few posts:

#1 - future indoor Ceremony. I think the problems are only unique to BC Place. As Atkins explained in an interview, this siutation is particularly delicate because BC Place is an inflatable-roof, "air lock"-type arena; and then the proceedings demand a huge flame. But if say the stadium was the new rigid framed Lucas Arena in Indianapolis (where BTW, the old RCA Dome was done away with), then there wouldn't be problems with a dual caldera. Perhaps in a rigid-framed arena, they could even have hooked up an outdoor cauldron to the existing structure.

#2 - re Wayne Gretchky riding a picl-up truck. So what's so objectionable about that? They had pick-up trucks in Atlanta; and in the Closing in Athens. So all of a sudden, Vancouver is too good to carry on the "pikc-up" truck tradition? I mean he's NOT even a gold medalist...so what's the prob? :blink:

Okay, so NBC did another little thing on the Cauldron malfunction at the beginning of the prime time broadcast tonight, and it was the DOOR that wouldn't open, not a malfunction in the leg at all. So why the F*** didn't they just have a production assistant run out and open the goddam thing MANUALLY!!!!! I mean, who cares, I would have rather had that than a missing leg!

well, that's why you don't work on these things and just kibitz with your opinion. ;)

Edited by baron-pierreIV
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Yeah, the pick up truck thing was a little weird, but I was VERY nervous because the cops didn't seem to have a handle on the situation. I was worried someone was going to egg Gretsky. I guess they didn't anticipate people watching in bars catching on a running to the street.

I wish it had been a little more formal, but I liked that viewers were able to see how excited (and law abiding) Canadians were.

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As a spectator at the stadium, I KNEW it wasn't the cauldron that had issues. It was the trap door. And the trap door was working earlier when the totem poles were erected. There was a pretty thick layer of confetti/fake snow on the stage, and I bet that's what caused it to jam. It opened as quickly as the other doors for about 5 metres then it stopped abruptly while the other three opened fully. You could also see that they were trying to open the fourth door little by little, but then they gave up and went for the three only.

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As a spectator at the stadium, I KNEW it wasn't the cauldron that had issues. It was the trap door. And the trap door was working earlier when the totem poles were erected. There was a pretty thick layer of confetti/fake snow on the stage, and I bet that's what caused it to jam. It opened as quickly as the other doors for about 5 metres then it stopped abruptly while the other three opened fully. You could also see that they were trying to open the fourth door little by little, but then they gave up and went for the three only.

This morning on Australian TV David Atkins said there was a glitch between the software and the mechanics/hydraulics of the trap door (a little akin to the programming prob at Sydney). Course the major difference was even with Sydney's cauldron hanging for a few minutes it still looked brilliant. Unfortunately the tripod fortress of solitude minorah of Vancouver looked just that little bit wonky.

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Im really not digging the cauldron.

It's not ugly or anything but somethings is off. Comparing to past cauldrons - Summer or Winter, it feels messy.

That shard in the middle specially with the indoor cauldron just looks forced and out of place. Maybe it should have been of a different design that the one outdoors.

At least this two-cauldron strategy already gets a test-run here in Vancouver. It would be interesting to see the dynamics especially now Rio will have a separate venue for ceremonies.

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What the hell is going on down at the cauldron/fortress of solitude/menorah?? It looks like a prison.

(why is the flame out in this shot!!!)

here's an even more depressing lookingshot, but at least it's lit!

Only Superman can get to the Fortress of Solitude! :lol::rolleyes:

I'm hoping this chainlink fence is gone when I'm there next week. I want to get some good photos of that cauldron.

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I still haven't read anything about the artistic meaning of the cauldron and what it is supposed to represent. Is it online anywhere?

What's it supposed to be? Icicles? Driftwood piled up as can be found on Long Beach? Fortress of Solitude? What is it? :unsure:

Will they re-light it in the future for say milestones such as the 10th anniversary of the games? Calgary has done that, most recently for the 20th anniversary of the '88 games. In fact, the small cauldron at the Olympic Oval is re-lit each year for graduation ceremonies since it's on the University campus there.

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The four pillars represents the four host nation and the big cauldron in the middle represent Canada.

This was posted by Markalltree

The cauldron looks amazing at night.

Icicles.

I still haven't read anything about the artistic meaning of the cauldron and what it is supposed to represent. Is it online anywhere?

What's it supposed to be? Icicles? Driftwood piled up as can be found on Long Beach? Fortress of Solitude? What is it? :unsure:

Will they re-light it in the future for say milestones such as the 10th anniversary of the games? Calgary has done that, most recently for the 20th anniversary of the '88 games. In fact, the small cauldron at the Olympic Oval is re-lit each year for graduation ceremonies since it's on the University campus there.

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What would've been interesting is if they made the cauldron a little more "dynamic". Rather than just watching the same flames coming out of the 5 cauldrons, maybe give each one a "burst" from time to time, or do some programmed flame show.

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What would've been interesting is if they made the cauldron a little more "dynamic". Rather than just watching the same flames coming out of the 5 cauldrons, maybe give each one a "burst" from time to time, or do some programmed flame show.

This is not Las Vegas, these are the Olympic Games. I'd find a flame show or any other special effect rather tasteless.

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At first, I wasn't a fan of the design, but now I've grown to really like it. I see a number of things in it...a bon fire, a maple leaf, a tee pee, a mountain, a snowflake, and with all the beams of light shooting above the city, I see the cauldron reflected in the sky all night long.

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Hmmm...an organising committee that goes all out (as every OC does) to engender support for the games in the host city with those who invariably pay for the privilege and then don't understand why those same masses want to get up close and personal with the most visible and concrete symbol of the Olympics...

That's what they call a disconnect.

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From what I saw here and there on television, there were blocks full of people behind that fence. Was the case similar with say Salt Lake's and Torino's cauldrons? It dosen't seem like it was, so I can see why Vanoc would say that they "underestimated the degree to which people would want to get close to it."

Granted, those last two winter Games cauldrons weren't in their city's buzzing downtowns. But even then, I can also read Vanoc's statement as their not expecting such strong public excitement for the Games.

I do think a chain-like fence was tactless though.

Regardless, I'm happy to see people are now closer to the flame:

2011109905.jpg

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympicoutsiders/2011109874_a_better_view_now_available_of.html

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In past olympics there was always a lot of people around the cauldron taking picture, but when located in a park around a stadium and in a high position (and not on a small plaza between 2 building and on the ground), people could easily access it and take the pictures....

And regarding the new "platform" where you can take a close picture of the cauldron... you will have to queue an average 45 minutes !!!

From what I saw here and there on television, there were blocks full of people behind that fence. Was the case similar with say Salt Lake's and Torino's cauldrons? It dosen't seem like it was, so I can see why Vanoc would say that they "underestimated the degree to which people would want to get close to it."

Granted, those last two winter Games cauldrons weren't in their city's buzzing downtowns. But even then, I can also read Vanoc's statement as their not expecting such strong public excitement for the Games.

I do think a chain-like fence was tactless though.

Regardless, I'm happy to see people are now closer to the flame:

2011109905.jpg

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympicoutsiders/2011109874_a_better_view_now_available_of.html

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