Fireworks will be set off during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games on August 8 to create a joyous and festive atmosphere. Fireworks of different shapes will be displayed above the main stadium of the Games, Olympic Forest Park and the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall
Sun Weide
Good afternoon, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our today's press conference at MPC on fireworks display. Introduction of the guests on stage, Mr. Wang Ning, executive deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Department, BOCOG, director of the Opening & Closing Ceremonies Operation Centre, Mr. Deng Shaohui, deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Department, BOCOG, deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Operation Centre, Mr. Cai Guoqiang, member of Core Creative Team, director of Visual & Special Effects of Opening & Closing Ceremonies for Olympics & Paralympics. To start, Mr. Wang Ning will give us a brief introduction of the plan of the fireworks on the Opening Ceremony.
Wang Ning
Friends from media, good afternoon. It is a pleasure for me to talk about the fireworks display for the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on the evening of 8th of August complementing with the cultural performances and protocol proceedings.
Mr. Cai will give us a brief introduction on creative plan of the fireworks
Cai Guoqiang
Good afternoon, Mr. Wang just gave you a general and comprehensive plan. I, myself joined the team in 2005. All the way from the start of the bidding process, I received the certificate from Mr. Wang and I can still remember that. I gave a lot of my artistic works in the plan. I submitted a lot of my work plan. It took me 2 to 3 years for the preparation. It was a long journey for me. Basically, in 2005 there are a lot of teams who proposed a lot of plans. The team has had a lot of discussions in the creations and the designs. Some of the highlights are no longer there, but the original ideas are still there. I would like to thank the bosses and the leaders for the Opening Ceremony as well as the director of the ceremony for their support to my creative work. And also I would like to thank the team of the fireworks for the security and all the other supports.
As you know, gunpowder is one of the inventions of China. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies all have fireworks display. Fireworks are effective to pump up the atmosphere. It never missed. But the fireworks this time are not only for the sake of pumping up the atmosphere, but have a goal to achieve the theme. It can play the role of storytelling, too. That poses challenges to fireworks in terms of technology and design. I am not going to talk more details about the technology. I would like to talk about some of the features and characteristics of the fireworks ignition.
For example, along the dragon-shaped landscape water system of the Olympic Green, the fireworks will be fired up into yellow dragon and red peonies. The computer ignition system will control the fireworks. So within seconds, the fireworks will span 3.5 kilometers, so that it will be right after the flag raising. Another example: From Yongdingmen to the National Stadium, we have the sense of sights depicting how the Olympics arrived in China, to Beijing, and to the Bird's Nest.
The fireworks will be thematic and concept based. I think it will be very conducive for the inauguration and Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. During the climax of the performances, we will display the thousands of pictures of smiling faces collected from all around the world. At that moment, to accompany the picture display, we're going to release the fireworks picturing 2008 smiling faces in the sky. Also, after the Olympic Flame is lighted above the Bird's Nest, we are going to fire the "shan" fireworks to symbolize the historical connection between the past and the present.
As for the details and other displays, I would like to give you some very basic ideas of what the fireworks are going to be. This will be a very glamorous moment of the Opening Ceremony which will only take several seconds. We are going to release the display of the Olympic Rings as well. For the details of all the displays, we will release that on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
On July 16, we have the fireworks rehearsal, Here are some of the pictures. This is above the dragon-shaped landscape water system of the Olympic Green, you can see a dragon shaped fireworks. Next, the red peony display shells. It is above the Bird's Nest. You will see everything in the Opening Ceremony. This is the moment of the countdown. In the Bird's Nest, we have one difficulty and one advantage. The difficulty is how to meet the demands of the spectators within the Bird's Nest because the Bird's Nest is a semi-closed shaped. We can play fireworks of different varieties and colors. Spectators will be accommodated at different layers. We will also set up a lighting equipment support so that the fireworks can be seen within and outside the stadium.
The fireworks will be broadcasted, and spectators within the stadium will be having a good time to have a better chance to enjoy the fireworks. This is the dragon I was mentioning along the dragon-shaped landscape water system. It was very spectacular with a length of 3.5 kilometers. This is the gun pressure launching a smiling face firework. It will be very accurately aimed and lighted up at the sky to form a picture so this is technically very demanding. We have spent two years on this technology. Thank you.
Sun Weide
Thank you Mr. Cai. Now I'll give the floor to the friends from media.
Apple DailyI'm from the Apple Daily. What is the budget of the fireworks display? In addition to the spectators within the National Stadium, outside the National Stadium, how many people do you estimate will be able to see the fireworks? Thank you.
Wang Ning
Thank you for the question. I will take the first one. For the cost of the fireworks, during the preparation of the Olympic Games, we have a very important concept which is to hold the Olympic Games in a cost effective way. This is especially embodied in the preparation for the Opening Ceremony. Generally speaking, the budget and the cost are very low as compared to events of the same level. Fireworks are costly as we know. During the Opening Ceremony preparation, however, it only takes a very small part of the total cost of the Opening Ceremony. As you know, China is the birthplace of the gunpowder and fireworks. We have a lot of products to choose from. As for the specific number, I can only give you a percentage points. Fireworks will take less than 1% of the total cost of the Opening Ceremony. For your second question, for the characteristics of the fireworks, I said we need to combine the effects both inside and outside the stadium to light up the skyline of Beijing on the August 8, to give everybody an opportunity to experience the joy brought by the Olympic Games. Therefore, in addition to the release within the Olympic Green central domain, we also have other locations appointed so that more and more people will see the fireworks. Thank you.
Cai Guoqiang
From Yongdingmen to the Tian'anmen Square to the Bird's Nest, we have 29 artistic fireworks which will be displayed. That is from Tiananmen to Yongdingmen to the Bird's Nest to the Forest Parks. In those key areas, we will have fireworks which will last for 10 minutes, leading up to the climax of the Opening Ceremony. We have 73 release sites located surrounding the Bird's Nest. From the director's point of view, we want to make the National Stadium extended to the city center so that people in downtown can also experience part of the Opening Ceremony.
Reporter from Brazil
Can you explain a little bit more about the technological involvement in the ignition system? If I understood correctly, it's the first time that this kind of technology will be used for the ignition of fireworks. What does it need in terms of the accuracy and perfection of the part you are going to see? Can you give us the idea of the amount of the fireworks that will be used? Can you give us an idea of how big it is going to be as compared with the past events?
Cai Guoqiang
The total amount will be 35,000 shells. Obviously it's a big number; however it is not too much. We are trying to use them in all the key points and key locations. For the 10-second display and the dragon-shaped fireworks, the fact is we are not using too much fireworks. But we are trying to achieve the best effects. From the technological point of view, we are using some of the traditional display shells as seen in other events.
In addition, we are also preparing a vast variety of displays to be special and to be different. Also, we are working on the brightness of all the fireworks so that it can be seen really well on the pictures and on the broadcaster's point of view. We have the air compression lauch system and also the gun pressure release system. With this system, we can better adjust the pressure before lauching so that we can control the height of the fireworks, so this is what we have done technically.
Sun Weide
Good afternoon, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our today's press conference at MPC on fireworks display. Introduction of the guests on stage, Mr. Wang Ning, executive deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Department, BOCOG, director of the Opening & Closing Ceremonies Operation Centre, Mr. Deng Shaohui, deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Department, BOCOG, deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Operation Centre, Mr. Cai Guoqiang, member of Core Creative Team, director of Visual & Special Effects of Opening & Closing Ceremonies for Olympics & Paralympics. To start, Mr. Wang Ning will give us a brief introduction of the plan of the fireworks on the Opening Ceremony.
Wang Ning
Friends from media, good afternoon. It is a pleasure for me to talk about the fireworks display for the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on the evening of 8th of August complementing with the cultural performances and protocol proceedings.
- At the Opening Ceremony, we will set up above the National Stadium Olympic Central Zone, Olympic Forest Park, north-south access line and the Great Wall at Juyongguan. The fireworks will be dazzling of different various combinations lasting 20 minutes, altogether creating joyous and festive atmosphere of jubilation.
- Reflecting the Olympic ideals
The fireworks at the ceremony will have different shapes and combinations; we will try to add elements as well as symbols to reflect the Olympic ideals. We hope to promote the Olympic ideals though the ignition of fireworks. For example, some of the fire works will be fired off to give stories of the Olympic history, it will depict how the ideals arrive in Beijing and finally settled in the Bird's Nest, and also depict how Chinese are aspired to achieve the century's dreams for the Olympics. For the first time, the shape of the Olympic Rings will be formed. - Implementing the idea of High-tech Olympic Games
Some of the technologies are very sophisticated. For instance, compressive air launch, chamber pressure launch and computerized ignition technologies. All of these technologies will be employed for the first time for fireworks display. This clearly shows the feature of a 'High-tech Olympics'. - Highlighting the characteristic of a 'Green Olympics'
Some of the fireworks at the Opening Ceremony will use small smoke powder, or so-called 'minimum smoke powder'. Some sophisticated launch tech will reduce the smoke and dust to minimize the impact or pollution to the environment. - We are aiming to achieve in and out of the venue effects.
At the Opening Ceremony, for the Olympic Games, the fireworks will not only be for the sake of the people inside the venue and the Olympic Green, the central zone outside the venue will also be combined. The fireworks are along the Olympic Green all the way to the forest park. - We are experimenting new fireworks.
In addition to traditional fireworks, we also use new types. For example, chip controlled shell and special affect display shells.
Above are some of the characteristics of the fireworks of the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games. The fireworks involve a large area. It is very difficult and complicated to carry out. The fireworks will be set off at different stages. We also have high standard to ensure the safety, safe and sound operation of the fireworks, we organize specialists and experts to put together document for the quality, safety, reliability and high-tech reliability and check delivering as well as storage for the fireworks and collateral devices and equipment. Meantime, after repeated experiments, we also developed elaborate plan as well as operational plan to supervise the operation.
It will not affect the rules or the parade of the athletes on August 8. We will also take measures to ensure the security and infrastructures. On July 16, we conducted the first rehearsal of our Opening Ceremony. Overall, the fireworks rehearsal met our expectations. Our work and operation were tested especially. I want to mention that after the rehearsal, the fireworks caused no damage to the steel bone structure of the National Stadium or to the main brain structure, or to the on-site audiences. Today is 16 days away from the Opening Ceremony, and we are still refining our plan. We hope to make our fireworks the most spectacular part of the Opening Ceremony.
That is my introduction. I would like to present one of my colleagues here. He is the creator and designer of the fireworks at the Olympic Games, Mr. Cai Guoqiang, acclaimed artists. Thank you.
Mr. Cai will give us a brief introduction on creative plan of the fireworks
Cai Guoqiang
Good afternoon, Mr. Wang just gave you a general and comprehensive plan. I, myself joined the team in 2005. All the way from the start of the bidding process, I received the certificate from Mr. Wang and I can still remember that. I gave a lot of my artistic works in the plan. I submitted a lot of my work plan. It took me 2 to 3 years for the preparation. It was a long journey for me. Basically, in 2005 there are a lot of teams who proposed a lot of plans. The team has had a lot of discussions in the creations and the designs. Some of the highlights are no longer there, but the original ideas are still there. I would like to thank the bosses and the leaders for the Opening Ceremony as well as the director of the ceremony for their support to my creative work. And also I would like to thank the team of the fireworks for the security and all the other supports.
As you know, gunpowder is one of the inventions of China. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies all have fireworks display. Fireworks are effective to pump up the atmosphere. It never missed. But the fireworks this time are not only for the sake of pumping up the atmosphere, but have a goal to achieve the theme. It can play the role of storytelling, too. That poses challenges to fireworks in terms of technology and design. I am not going to talk more details about the technology. I would like to talk about some of the features and characteristics of the fireworks ignition.
For example, along the dragon-shaped landscape water system of the Olympic Green, the fireworks will be fired up into yellow dragon and red peonies. The computer ignition system will control the fireworks. So within seconds, the fireworks will span 3.5 kilometers, so that it will be right after the flag raising. Another example: From Yongdingmen to the National Stadium, we have the sense of sights depicting how the Olympics arrived in China, to Beijing, and to the Bird's Nest.
The fireworks will be thematic and concept based. I think it will be very conducive for the inauguration and Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. During the climax of the performances, we will display the thousands of pictures of smiling faces collected from all around the world. At that moment, to accompany the picture display, we're going to release the fireworks picturing 2008 smiling faces in the sky. Also, after the Olympic Flame is lighted above the Bird's Nest, we are going to fire the "shan" fireworks to symbolize the historical connection between the past and the present.
As for the details and other displays, I would like to give you some very basic ideas of what the fireworks are going to be. This will be a very glamorous moment of the Opening Ceremony which will only take several seconds. We are going to release the display of the Olympic Rings as well. For the details of all the displays, we will release that on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
On July 16, we have the fireworks rehearsal, Here are some of the pictures. This is above the dragon-shaped landscape water system of the Olympic Green, you can see a dragon shaped fireworks. Next, the red peony display shells. It is above the Bird's Nest. You will see everything in the Opening Ceremony. This is the moment of the countdown. In the Bird's Nest, we have one difficulty and one advantage. The difficulty is how to meet the demands of the spectators within the Bird's Nest because the Bird's Nest is a semi-closed shaped. We can play fireworks of different varieties and colors. Spectators will be accommodated at different layers. We will also set up a lighting equipment support so that the fireworks can be seen within and outside the stadium.
The fireworks will be broadcasted, and spectators within the stadium will be having a good time to have a better chance to enjoy the fireworks. This is the dragon I was mentioning along the dragon-shaped landscape water system. It was very spectacular with a length of 3.5 kilometers. This is the gun pressure launching a smiling face firework. It will be very accurately aimed and lighted up at the sky to form a picture so this is technically very demanding. We have spent two years on this technology. Thank you.
Sun Weide
Thank you Mr. Cai. Now I'll give the floor to the friends from media.
Apple DailyI'm from the Apple Daily. What is the budget of the fireworks display? In addition to the spectators within the National Stadium, outside the National Stadium, how many people do you estimate will be able to see the fireworks? Thank you.
Wang Ning
Thank you for the question. I will take the first one. For the cost of the fireworks, during the preparation of the Olympic Games, we have a very important concept which is to hold the Olympic Games in a cost effective way. This is especially embodied in the preparation for the Opening Ceremony. Generally speaking, the budget and the cost are very low as compared to events of the same level. Fireworks are costly as we know. During the Opening Ceremony preparation, however, it only takes a very small part of the total cost of the Opening Ceremony. As you know, China is the birthplace of the gunpowder and fireworks. We have a lot of products to choose from. As for the specific number, I can only give you a percentage points. Fireworks will take less than 1% of the total cost of the Opening Ceremony. For your second question, for the characteristics of the fireworks, I said we need to combine the effects both inside and outside the stadium to light up the skyline of Beijing on the August 8, to give everybody an opportunity to experience the joy brought by the Olympic Games. Therefore, in addition to the release within the Olympic Green central domain, we also have other locations appointed so that more and more people will see the fireworks. Thank you.
Cai Guoqiang
From Yongdingmen to the Tian'anmen Square to the Bird's Nest, we have 29 artistic fireworks which will be displayed. That is from Tiananmen to Yongdingmen to the Bird's Nest to the Forest Parks. In those key areas, we will have fireworks which will last for 10 minutes, leading up to the climax of the Opening Ceremony. We have 73 release sites located surrounding the Bird's Nest. From the director's point of view, we want to make the National Stadium extended to the city center so that people in downtown can also experience part of the Opening Ceremony.
Reporter from Brazil
Can you explain a little bit more about the technological involvement in the ignition system? If I understood correctly, it's the first time that this kind of technology will be used for the ignition of fireworks. What does it need in terms of the accuracy and perfection of the part you are going to see? Can you give us the idea of the amount of the fireworks that will be used? Can you give us an idea of how big it is going to be as compared with the past events?
Cai Guoqiang
The total amount will be 35,000 shells. Obviously it's a big number; however it is not too much. We are trying to use them in all the key points and key locations. For the 10-second display and the dragon-shaped fireworks, the fact is we are not using too much fireworks. But we are trying to achieve the best effects. From the technological point of view, we are using some of the traditional display shells as seen in other events.
In addition, we are also preparing a vast variety of displays to be special and to be different. Also, we are working on the brightness of all the fireworks so that it can be seen really well on the pictures and on the broadcaster's point of view. We have the air compression lauch system and also the gun pressure release system. With this system, we can better adjust the pressure before lauching so that we can control the height of the fireworks, so this is what we have done technically.
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