mattperiolat Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I'm about to ask a very stupid question. Are we certain the cauldron will be at the Olympic Stadium? Or even at the Olympic Park? Here's why I ask: back during the Queen's Jubilee, during the events in front of Buckingham Palace, I could not help but marvel at the size and shape of the reviewing stand at Traflagar Square and it occured to me it looked for all the world like a cauldron. Now, obviously, it wasn't, but it's just something to noodle over. Could the final site of the cauldron end up being some place like extremely public and iconic like in Trafalgar Square? More that one person has suggested the cauldron moving or more than one location involved in the lighting. At this point, I'm slinging whatever mud I can against the wall because I have absolutely no clue what they even have in mind anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I think I may have seen the site - there is something strange - not sure if it's been completely built or whether it's half finished - for obvious reasons - I can't say anything else! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissO Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I think I may have seen the site - there is something strange - not sure if it's been completely built or whether it's half finished - for obvious reasons - I can't say anything else! Exiting ! I will arrive this friday in London.... almost ready to head to John Lewis at Westfield in Stratford to try to see it from the last floor of the building.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FDLondon Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I think I may have seen the site - there is something strange - not sure if it's been completely built or whether it's half finished - for obvious reasons - I can't say anything else! Note to self: keep eyes peeled on the way to/from this weekends' rehearsals! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenadian Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 @mattperiolat - I think that's one of the essential questions. Yes, there will be a cauldron at the Olympic Stadium. The Olympic Charter says something like the flame must be lit in front of the audience in the stadium, and visible outside, if possible. So do you suppose London will do a Vancouver with a ceremonial cauldron in the stadium and a permanent cauldron elsewhere? I had proposed the idea of a mobile cauldron a while back. This is possible. Vancouver's outdoor cauldron was very popular with the public, with thousands lining up to snap photos of themselves in front of it. They messed up with the hideous fence, but whether by design or by accident, they ended up with huge engagement. London organizers would have seen that and have commented on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I think I may have seen the site - there is something strange - not sure if it's been completely built or whether it's half finished - for obvious reasons - I can't say anything else! Inside or outside the stadium? Is it recognisable also for us on the already-published photographs or is it hidden? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodrigo_dpc Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 In a short interview Clare Amsel, producer of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony was asked: Do you have a favorite lighting of the olympic cauldron moment? - "It hasn't happend yet! I already know the London Cauldron will be the most beautiful ever so this will be my favorite." I think it will a big suprise as it was in Barceona 92. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I think it will a big suprise as it was in Barceona 92. Barcelona was leaked after the dress rehearsal. We learned it from the camera shop we visited the day before the OC. So we knew from the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenadian Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Leaking Barcelona's probably also served a purpose...to build suspense: Could they do it? Yes! Anyway, to keep it on topic...the location. Looking at the poll I created last week, it is pretty clear that we're all befuddled by this, although the plurality (27% as of this posting) think it will be outside the stadium, followed by the 20% who think it will be something all together unexpected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I still wouldn't throw away the possibility of having a "ceremony-only" cauldron and then having an identical one outside the stadium somewhere. Also, if the cauldron is indeed being built somewhere else right now, it's probably not a cauldron tower. I mean, why build a tower off-site, take it part, and then build it again on-site? There's no sense in that. I suppose they can keep it assembled and transport it by helicopter or something, but having your giant cauldron tower flying across the sky is the last thing you want to do if you want to keep it a secret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrack Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 The ceremony ticket graphics in sequence may provides clues to the cauldron design and assembly. Olympic Opening Ceremony: Many parts/arms fold together to form some sort of bowl or base for the flame Olympic Closing Ceremony: The formed cauldron (side view) remains stationary through the closing ceremony. Paralympic Opening Ceremony: The formed cauldron (top view) is in place for the Paralympic opening. Paralympic Closing Ceremony: The cauldrons many parts/arms fold away as the flame is extinguished. Just for fun here... what if each one of those poles is also used to usher in a nation? It's difficult to tell with the mosaic, but could there possibly be enough "tiles" in the "bowl" to have one for each county? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Also, if the cauldron is indeed being built somewhere else right now, it's probably not a cauldron tower. I mean, why build a tower off-site, take it part, and then build it again on-site? There's no sense in that. I don't know about that. It's certainly not the most efficient way to do it, but if they are making secrecy a priority maybe it's worth it to them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattperiolat Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I wonder if the true secret of what is going on is not just where the cauldron will end up being lit. Let us suppose for a moment that Kenadian is right and there is more than one cauldron, one inside, one outside, perhaps more. What Vancouver did with Gretzky going to the final cauldron was very clumsy, truth be told. Could the designers have come up with a way to have the flame to travel from cauldron to cauldron throughout the city lighting them off in sequence? If they pull it off, we will have something to rival Lord of the Rings in terms of epicness. I'm really starting to feel like I'm grasping here, but I cannot escape the feeling that if there will be an external cauldron and there is more than one cauldron, the organizers will want to involve the Thames River somehow too. Getting interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citizen-Seth Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I still wouldn't throw away the possibility of having a "ceremony-only" cauldron and then having an identical one outside the stadium somewhere. Also, if the cauldron is indeed being built somewhere else right now, it's probably not a cauldron tower. I mean, why build a tower off-site, take it part, and then build it again on-site? There's no sense in that. I suppose they can keep it assembled and transport it by helicopter or something, but having your giant cauldron tower flying across the sky is the last thing you want to do if you want to keep it a secret. For Salt Lake the entire cauldron tower was assembled offsite and then driven by a big rig to Ryce-Ecceles Stadium. They had it wrapped up so you couldn't tell what it was, but obviously word got out as the truck had to drive incredibly slow (as to not crack the glass) and media soon began following it down the highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Lets not let our imaginations totally run away with us or we could end up disappointed. Multiple cauldrons. The Thames, etc.... Dream up something too grandiose and you're almost certain to be let down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve10086 Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 That is my worry (well, that and the rain!) I really hope the cauldron isn't a damp squib (in all respects!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 So far, Heatherwick and Clare Amsel only spoke of "the cauldron" -- that doesn't sound as if there are multiple cauldrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Well that isn't surprising. They are hardly going to refer to them as cauldron(s), as that would give the game away instantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hawk Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I dunno - they are going to want to do something that's unique. How can they be more unique than we've seen so far? That's the question - it will want to be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 The thing with putting the/a cauldon on the roof of the stadium (and I think the roof can withstand the weight of a light cauldron), is that there are so many of those triangular lighting thingies PLUS other things sticking out that it's going to look like some tenement neighborhood with all that crap on the roof, that it's going to be really, really ugly. In some of those profile shots, the arc over the FUGLY Orbital would seem to be the logical place to house a flame. Maybe Heatherwick is only designing the flame?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Note to self: keep eyes peeled on the way to/from this weekends' rehearsals! yeah see if you can see what i mean - its on the main approach - strange structure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 (edited) Cud it be over Tower Bridge, London's most famous landmark? Edited July 12, 2012 by baron-pierreIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hawk Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I thought that too...that would be pretty cool, having it atop Tower Bridge. I was there just two weeks ago, has such an aura. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattperiolat Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I thought that too...that would be pretty cool, having it atop Tower Bridge. I was there just two weeks ago, has such an aura. They;re killing us by inches in. IF it's at Tower Bridge and IF Redgrave is the last bearer, that almost certainly would seem to be a clue, especially given how the ceremony has evolved and the location of the stadium that the Thames may be used. I know, I know, I'm probably getting carried away just because I want it so badly. I think it's also such a strong memory of the Sydney Closing Ceremonies of the river of fire from Homebush all the way down to the Harbor Bridge to conclude the games. Why not try and do something similar to open the Games in London? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 yeah see if you can see what i mean - its on the main approach - strange structure So it's outside the stadium? What do you mean with "main approach"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts