baron-pierreIV Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I hope this mystery cauldron is water-proof. It'd be a shame for the whole world to anticipate it and then when it gets lit, a sudden thunderstorm erupts, and VOILA! both the cauldron and the torch are extinguished. And then the search for the miner's lamp begins in haste... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 And you know that the cauldron is not in the shape of a bell, because....? I know Heatherwick designed the cauldron. Look at his work. It's not a bell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 It's likely that Singapore had already poured in a lot of resources into the torch relay before the announcement and the IOC allowed them to proceed with it because of that. I just don't think they would compromise on such an iconic image like that. The IOC made a special exception because it was the first YOGs Lighting and Torch relay, and it had ot fly all the way to Singapore anyway. The flame journey to Innsbruck in January this year was one w/o too much fanfare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 How can the cauldron rise from a hole in the center of the stadium? What about the field events? Does it make sense to do a grand, mind-blowing lighting and then move the cauldron elsewhere in the stadium? I have to say I'm developing a gnawing feeling that the most impressive thing about this cauldron may be the secrecy surrounding it -- not the cauldron itself or the lighting of it. I hope that proves unfounded... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago_olyguy Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 The IOC made a special exception because it was the first YOGs Lighting and Torch relay, and it had ot fly all the way to Singapore anyway. The flame journey to Innsbruck in January this year was one w/o too much fanfare. That might have been another contributing factor but still why would the IOC compromise on a symbol of the games. I don't think its likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkUk Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Here's something concrete about the cauldron; "I already know the London Cauldron will be the most beautiful ever so this will be my favourite." That's a quote from Clare Amsel, Producer, Paralympic Opening Ceremony (page 6 https://getset.london2012.com/assets-uploaded/documents/WSD_oc_-_Story_E-W.pdf). Denis Oswald is also reported as having confirmed to ATR that there is a cauldron. So I doubt it's going to be a re-cycled bell! Look at the ATR article and it starts by saying "a cauldron towering over the Olympic Stadium will be missing during the games". It then goes on to say Denis Oswald "confirms it will only be visible within the Olympic Stadium". None of this says this will be the ONLY cauldron. ATR assume that's what it means or perhaps they 'spin' it that way to make it more of a story? Anyway, imagine an interview going something like this: ATR: We are a few months/weeks/days away from the opening ceremony but there's no sign of a cauldron in the Olympic Stadium. Given the design of the stadium, it's very difficult to see where the cauldron would go. Will there be a cauldron in the stadium for the opening ceremony? Oswald: There is definitely a cauldron. ATR: Does that mean it will be on a tower outside the stadium? Oswald: No, it will only be seen inside the stadium. OK, that's pure guess work but a conversation like that is surely possible. If Oswald was asked, and answering, a question about the opening ceremony; there could be a cauldron outside the stadium without any contradiction. As ATR go on to say: "The absence of a cauldron visible from outside the stadium is a first for the Summer Games of the recent era". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I think you're really reaching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu4m Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q530/gpsat12/5a8b48ed.jpg A pic of when they were building something in the centre of the stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 http://i1162.photobu...12/5a8b48ed.jpg A pic of when they were building something in the centre of the stage Wasn't that just for the 5th ring in the pyro-effect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkUk Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Do you mean like this? Belisha Beacons. Haha, no, nothing like those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu4m Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Wasn't that just for the 5th ring in the pyro-effect? Could be - though there is something in the centre of the circle that that is very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Could be - though there is something in the centre of the circle that that is very interesting. It seems way too little to be a cauldron though. I assumed it was just part of the mechanism. Something lifts the ring up off the stadium floor before it is hoisted into the air by cables (it's part of the "Satanic Mills" setting). Otherwise there would be visible cables stretching down into the center of the stadium from the very beginning of "Green and Pleasant." I guess I could have missed them, but so far I haven't spotted any such cables in pics or video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 (edited) ATR: Does that mean it will be on a tower outside the stadium? Oswald: No, it will only be seen inside the stadium. OK, that's pure guess work but a conversation like that is surely possible. If Oswald was asked, and answering, a question about the opening ceremony; there could be a cauldron outside the stadium without any contradiction. As ATR go on to say: "The absence of a cauldron visible from outside the stadium is a first for the Summer Games of the recent era". I really think the IOC is OK with scaling back on the extravagance. Beijing's cauldron idea was sooo forced that when they took it out of its roof context, it looks like some forlorn orphan standing by itself on the ground. There are fotos out there; am too lazy 2 find it. Vancouver's, of course, went awry in the stadium, and just looks too weird sitting out there in the harbor. I am sure the Russians are planning a doozie for their Winter Games. So London's low-key cauldron moment will either make the Russian show breathtaking or too over-the-top like Beijing's. Edited July 25, 2012 by baron-pierreIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu4m Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 It seems way too little to be a cauldron though. I assumed it was just part of the mechanism. Something lifts the ring up off the stadium floor before it is hoisted into the air by cables (it's part of the "Satanic Mills" setting). Otherwise there would be visible cables stretching down into the center of the stadium from the very beginning of "Green and Pleasant." I guess I could have missed them, but so far I haven't spotted any such cables in pics or video. True, though I guess we will just have to wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinetic Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 May as well keep guessing/discussing, time is running out! From this photo (the large version is worth a look) it's clear that no deep hole has been dug into the stadium floor. Many of the rectangular black spots on the photo above in nu4m's post do match with lifts that I've seen on the raised stage. I don't want to go into the spoiler thread for fear of ruining what will be a surprise for me on Friday night (I've gifted my tech rehearsal tickets). Key question: as far as we know, has any of the segments used a large, round lift in the centre of the stage during the cultural part of the show? London 2012 Olympic stadium, May 2010 by onehourleft, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 (edited) There are other shots which clearly show a center hole. Look at one here: http://sportinglife.aol.co.uk/formula-1/news/article/24731/7834346/olympic-stadium-could-stage-gp-/ What's that thing in the center? Edited July 25, 2012 by baron-pierreIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Key question: as far as we know, has any of the segments used a large, round lift in the centre of the stage during the cultural part of the show? It looked like they used one in the "Satanic Mills" section. There are other shots which clearly show a center hole. Post one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinetic Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 There are other shots which clearly show a center hole. Look at one here: http://sportinglife....ould-stage-gp-/ What's that thing in the center? That's a photo I haven't seen before. There's a higher resolution version here; my best guess given the state of the rest of the stage is that this is relatively early in set construction, and that the 'hole' is actually a first bit of the pastoral set. I haven't seen a lot of what's under the stage, but from what I remember it's largely supported on a dense series of scaffold props, which makes manouvering things in and around it rather difficult. I'm sure Adrian and FD will be chuckling when they read all this, given that they (think they) know where the cauldron is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 There are other shots which clearly show a center hole. Look at one here: http://sportinglife....ould-stage-gp-/ What's that thing in the center? Thanks for acquiescing to my request and editing your original post to show a photo. I don't see any hole though. I see some green turf spread over the stage that is a few feet higher than the stadium floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkUk Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I really think the IOC is OK with scaling back on the extravagance. Beijing's cauldron idea was sooo forced that when they took it out of its roof context, it looks like some forlorn orphan standing by itself on the ground. There are fotos out there; am too lazy 2 find it. Vancouver's, of course, went awry in the stadium, and just looks too weird sitting out there in the harbor. I am sure the Russians are planning a doozie for their Winter Games. So London's low-key cauldron moment will either make the Russian show breathtaking or too over-the-top like Beijing's. I've accepted that there won't be a huge cauldron towering over the stadium and now I'm more inclined to agree with the suggestion (I think yours) that there may be two cauldrons or the lit cauldron will be moved. I think the simultaneous lighting of two cauldrons (or moving of the lit cauldron) could form part of the spectacle. I also think it may be that the actual lighting will only be visible inside the stadium. In support of this, Boyle has spoken of a ceremony designed for the people in the stadium (lighting a cauldron outside/above the stadium roof would not be seen by all those inside). Heatherwick has spoken of the lighting as a "moment" and described Boyle as an expert in creating moments. Finally, the Prime Minister wasn't happy with the original low-key opening ceremony and wanted a more impressive ceremony to promote the UK. We know from Heatherwick that the PM was consulted about the cauldron lighting. Some have interpreted this as meaning the lighting is so 'unusual' it needs special permission. Unless they're planning to use the recently installed anti-aircraft missiles to ignite the cauldron, I think this unlikely. It's far more likely that the PM had to sign off on whether the cauldron lighting part of the ceremony was spectacular enough to justify the extra £41million. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Has there been any evidence at all that suggests multiple cauldrons? I haven't seen any. No, I suppose no one has come out and said "There is only one cauldron," but I haven't seen a single interview or story where there is even the slightest suggestion that there might be more than one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkUk Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Damn, I hit send before I'd finished. I was going to finish by saying I'm going to see the hockey in just over a week. One of the highlights that I'm looking forward to is seeing the flaming cauldron as I leave the park in darkness. I'm going to be mighty disappointed if this isn't possible as, I suspect, will almost all the visitors. That's why I'm sure there will be a cauldron, posibly a duplicate cauldron, visible outside the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepianoman Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Just posted this in the ceremony spoilers thread- but thought you guys might be interested too since it's flame related. Discovered a very interesting video of some firework effects being tested on Tower Bridge: Most interestingly though is the description of the video: Several Tower Bridge lifts were scheduled for the evening and the fast boat raced up and down the river several times, once with a woman holding a flaming torch in the bow of the boat - but the torch was of a different design to the Olympic Torch which has been touring the country. Could this be how the torch reaches the stadium?? It ties in with the river flowing through the centre of the set. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Damn, I hit send before I'd finished. I was going to finish by saying I'm going to see the hockey in just over a week. One of the highlights that I'm looking forward to is seeing the flaming cauldron as I leave the park in darkness. I'm going to be mighty disappointed if this isn't possible as, I suspect, will almost all the visitors. That's why I'm sure there will be a cauldron, posibly a duplicate cauldron, visible outside the stadium. You're certain there will be a duplicate because you will be disappointed if there isn't one? Hmmmm....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonbound Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 What about having the flame "move" to the center of tower bridge for the duration of the games? This makes more sense to me than the Shard. It's gorgeous and more importantly everyone can see it. I just don't know how to hide something in the middle of the bridge and not get it noticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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