XX Olympic Winter Games
Turin, Italy - 2006
Space Cannon illuminated the international sporting event of the year: the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin , dealing with the supply, installation and management of the projectors. The Turin Olympic Games were an extraordinary event, capable of covering new ground compared to previous events, and above all of generating involvement and emotions in the vast number of spectators. As executive producer, Space Cannon handled all the organisational, technical and artistic aspects relating to lighting. The lighting system provided by Space Cannon succeeded in representing the Olympic spirit, enhancing the atmosphere of the opening and closing ceremonies.
The Italian company has considerable experience in providing lighting systems for sporting events: in 2002, Space Cannon spotlights were used in Salt Lake City for the Olympic Winter Games, in New Orleans for the XXXVI Super Bowl and in 2000 for the Olympic Games in Sydney . Past successes of Space Cannon include also other great sporting events such as the Italy 1990, Korea and Japan football world cup matches, the Formula 1 racing track in Shanghai (2004) and the Madrid stadium, on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of Real Madrid. Space Cannon was chosen also on account of this experience, although on this occasion it took up the challenge in a new role, never played before: that of general contractor.
Each single luminaire switched on in the Olympic stadium in Turin, apart from the service lights, came from Space Cannon: the lighting choreography and show for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games, illumination of the stage and walkway, of the stands of the stadium, its entire perimeter, the Olympic flame, the opening ceremony of the Paralympics and, in parallel, various installations in the City of Turin, concerts, events, etc. – they all carry the Space Cannon brand name.
The lighting project for the Olympic Games involved the use of architectural spotlights for major events and, to a greater extent, of LED spotlights, for an approximate total of 2100 luminaires, ranging from output levels as low as 36W up to 8000W, and fitted with special metal halide and xenon lamps. The XX Olympic Games in Turin in 2006 were the first to be filmed with a high definition system so therefore the lighting had to meet strict parameters. Of the other 2100 light sources, 1084 were Space Cannon LED products, with the remaining luminaires divided between metal halide and xenon sources.
Finally, the control system for of the entire system was implemented with optical fibres (by Agorà , well-known service company which Space Cannon wanted to involve in the operation as technical partner), a total novelty considering the size. In terms of technology, Space Cannon invested many economic and production resources in the development and perfecting of the LED luminaires which for the debut on such an important stage had to ensure high standards of efficiency. For a company such as Space Cannon, the Olympic event represents by no means a finishing, but rather a starting line for new and ambitious projects.
