Torchbearer AA Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 Beautiful pictures, I can not wait to see the venues. Less than two months and I am there:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Don't crap your pants, everyone, this could be anything! But if you ask me, I would guess they're setting up the suspended cauldron's support because (1) where it sits on the stadiums (on a corner, possibly suggesting that 3 more of these things will sit at the other 3 corners, suspending the cauldron), and (2) how it looks like. Just thoughts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 But if you ask me, I would guess they're setting up the suspended cauldron's support because (1) where it sits on the stadiums (on a corner, possibly suggesting that 3 more of these things will sit at the other 3 corners, suspending the cauldron), and (2) how it looks like. Just thoughts. That is a very strange shape, and I can't really figure out how it works. It looks like a scroll (similar to the torch) or like a tube with some sort of roof. If that has anything to do with the cauldron, then the cauldron will certainly have an extremely innovative design and mechanism. But I think the odds that it's some apparatus for the cauldron are quite good. I can't imagine that such a massive, eye-catching structure is for the normal ceremonial rigging only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 (edited) I can't make out what that is; but to me it looks like something that's rolled which will be un-rolled ON the roof. If it was the cauldron, why are they hoisting it in -- from the outside? Why can't they hoist it from the inside? Edited June 12, 2008 by baron-pierreIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torchbearer AA Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Maybe it's just something for the opening ceremony creative part. I don't think it is the caudron itself... I think the Chinese are trying to let it be a secret to the last moment like so much these Games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 I can't make out what that is; but to me it looks like something that's rolled which will be un-rolled ON the roof.If it was the cauldron, why are they hoisting it in -- from the outside? Why can't they hoist it from the inside? Probably because they would have to put up a crane inside the stadium for being able to hoist it. And that would be a little complicated and time-consuming. But I agree with you that it looks like it's something that's unrolled on the roof. It really looks very much like a scroll, and thus interestingly corresponds with the torch design. Remember Athens, where the cauldron resembled the look of the torch as well. So how do you think about a suspended cauldron now, Baron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Maybe it's just something for the opening ceremony creative part. I don't think it is the caudron itself... I think the Chinese are trying to let it be a secret to the last moment like so much these Games. But unless the cauldron comes out of the ground (as in Baron's concept), it's practically impossible for the organisers to hide the cauldron from public view beforehand. And I don't think that they would destroy the architectural "purity" of the stadium with such a massive apparatus if it was in use just for one or two evenings (the ceremonies) and then remained unused for the rest of the Games. No, it's more probable that this apparatus serves a much more prominent purpose -- a purpose for the whole 17 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympia Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Will there be an other test event before the Games? maybe we can see it installed and see what it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Probably because they would have to put up a crane inside the stadium for being able to hoist it. And that would be a little complicated and time-consuming.But I agree with you that it looks like it's something that's unrolled on the roof. It really looks very much like a scroll, and thus interestingly corresponds with the torch design. Remember Athens, where the cauldron resembled the look of the torch as well. So how do you think about a suspended cauldron now, Baron? If it's going to sit on the roof somehere. I dunno - maybe the north end? I mean the Chinese have all these feng shui principles (I know a little) -- but anything with 'fire' on the roof of a structure I would think is a major 'no-no.' It's definitely that tower-like thing telescoping up from the hole in the ground. Now, whether it was rise farther to 'float' or not, I don't know. As for staying 'suspended' for 17 days? They may be crazy enough to go for that -- but as (you?) pointed out previously, the shadow it will cast on the field during the day, will probably drive some people crazy -- and/or if the IAAF hasn't become aware of that and put in their 2 cents on the matter. If a tower outside goes up as Aug 8 nears, then we shall know more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Will there be an other test event before the Games? maybe we can see it installed and see what it is! There are always 'test' events -- like 3 or 4 nights before the Opening. But they happen in he dead of night or just before daybreak, so unless we have spies staying up that late, then it would be difficult to get any photographic evidence before that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Bump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torchbearer AA Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 There are always 'test' events -- like 3 or 4 nights before the Opening. But they happen in he dead of night or just before daybreak, so unless we have spies staying up that late, then it would be difficult to get any photographic evidence before that time. Does this mean if it's the cauldron, they are going to rehears from now on for the opening ceremony in the National Stadium? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torchbearer AA Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 I hope there will be more pictures of this strange construction in near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Does this mean if it's the cauldron, they are going to rehears from now on for the opening ceremony in the National Stadium? Well, only if the whole cauldron apparatus is up and running. Not on a daily basis if that's what you mean. There are still some 58 days left before 08/08/08. So if you'll be a little patient, and some folks are going to stake out the stadium for nights on end for some 'scoop' pictures, then we may be lucky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Will there be an other test event before the Games? maybe we can see it installed and see what it is! Do you rehearsals for the ceremonies?... then yes, as said, they always pencil those in for the last few days before the big night. But, unless someone is willing to completely defy Chinese authorities, we won't see much of anything until the actual Ceremony begins. As for "Good Luck Beijing" Test Events at the National Stadium... those have ended. The Bird's Nest is closed to the public until the Opening Ceremony, and that may include most of the Olympic Green as well. By the way, looking at some new pictures and their captions, I can make out that this thing on the roof is on the north eastern corner of the stadium, directly horizontal from the running track's finishing line if seen from inside. I’m starting to think that if 3 more of these things are put up at the other three corners, there's a decent to good chance this may be part of a suspended cauldron's support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 (edited) See the BIZARRE cauldron from a stadium in East Borneo, Indonesia. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.p...1903&page=4 It's near the bottom of that page. (It's a 'dynamic' photo, so this board's server(?) won't let me reproduce.) God, I hope the Beijing one will, in principle, be nothing like that. Edited June 13, 2008 by baron-pierreIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympia Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 See the BIZARRE cauldron from a stadium in East Borneo, Indonesia. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.p...1903&page=4 It's near the bottom of that page. (It's a 'dynamic' photo, so this board's server(?) won't let me reproduce.) God, I hope the Beijing one will, in principle, be nothing like that. It looks more like a funeral pyre like the used in the middle-ages to burn witches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 It looks more like a funeral pyre like the used in the middle-ages to burn witches! Exactly. A human bonfire, minus the condemned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torchbearer AA Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 Maybe the cauldron is going to be a dragon.. dragon and Chinese mythology.. dragon and fire.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 ^Personally, a dragon would seem hostile and not very fitting at all. I'd like to see them continue with the cloud theme and have the cauldron be a larger version of the cauldron that’s used at the end of each leg of the torch relay: And I don't think that thing on the roof is the actual cauldron. It could be associated with it, but I can't see that thing, specifically, burning any flame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 And I don't think that thing on the roof is the actual cauldron. It could be associated with it, but I can't see that thing, specifically, burning any flame. No, I think that this could be the suspension of the cauldron, not the cauldron itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 No, I think that this could be the suspension of the cauldron, not the cauldron itself. I've always thought so too. I was just commenting that I now don't think that this thing will turn out to be the actual cauldron, but I do think it could turn out to be part of the cauldron's support structure - I can imagine 4 'bases' anchored to the roof with 4 respective supports (the thinner, curved / bent piece of the thing seen) curving down into the stadium and supporting the cauldron above the field. There's nothing to say that the stadium's roof was not designed to support the added weight of the cauldron's support. However, I'm starting to see a possible flaw to this theory. That thinner, bent / curved piece appears hallow, so it may not be very sturdy and capable of supporting a cauldron. That is, at least, for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torchbearer AA Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I hope we will see new pictures soon how the work is now. If there will be also at the other side such a thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I hope we will see new pictures soon how the work is now. There are these pics, probably taken not too long after the first ones that showed the thing... They are taken from a subway station at the Olympic Green, but north from the stadium. So whatever that thing on the roof is, it's the same one we've always seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Finally found one that shows the south side of the stadium's roof: If this was taken recently, there's nothing new... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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