Bill, Director of Ceremonies, Education and Live Sites25 July 2007
Rio is full of hangovers this morning – indeed for some the party’s still going on – and this is a city that knows how to party. But if ever there was an excuse it was last night.The opening ceremony of the Pan American Games is the talk of the town – the
A cast of four thousand volunteer performers was assembled by a predominantly local Brasilian team, led by the experienced US Exec. Producer, Scott Givens. We saw vast tableaux representing the energy of the sun, the energy of water (and Brasilian beach life) and the energy of man.
The team drew heavily on the local talents of carnival producers and costume creators, massed samba schools and the seemingly inate Braslian ability to dance. The production moved at a healthy pace and wisely chose to go for quality rather than quantity. It arrived at its traditional climax with the lighting of the cauldron after less than two and a quarter hours.
The cauldron itself was one of the biggest ticket items in the budget – and well worth every Brasilian Real it cost – a huge ball of fire representing the sun and standing at stage level like a radiant energy source for the sports which will take place in its presence over the next couple of weeks.
Away from the fantastic artistry for a moment, I couldn’t help noticing that popular reactions to leading politicians are the same the world over. But here in Brasil they are even more up front than most. Such was the jeering for Brasilian President Lula that at the last minute he decided to forgo the traditional opening proclamation for the games, leaving the President of the Organising Committee to hastily extemporise an opening announcement.
Of course there is so much else about Rio and its games that are different from London’s 2012 plans but if ever you wanted a demonstration of the successful meeting of vivid local culture and passion for sport this was it – and judging by the party atmosphere it hit the button.
