Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 27, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The enormous automated lighting system is the largest integrated automated system ever created for a single event, and also Martin’s largest lighting rig to date. The stars of the lighting installation are the MAC 2000 Wash moving-head fixtures and Martin Professional’s new MAC 2000 Wash XB model.
Martin is the largest supplier of automated lighting for the Olympic festivities in Beijing; Martin MAC Wash 2000 fixtures will be used in the lighting system more frequently than any other type of light. Most of the MAC fixtures will be mounted on the stadium roof, with several hundred positioned along one of the upper tiers. Chinese lighting designer Sha Xiaolan is responsible for the lighting concept, while China Central Television (CCTV) is providing the main lighting. Alongside Martin Professional and other suppliers, the Chinese company Beiao also contributed to the lighting. Installation of the lighting systems began in March, with programming inside the stadium scheduled for June.
The Martin system will remain installed through the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games on August 24 and will also illuminate the subsequent Paralympics from September 6 to 17. Another 800 Martin fixtures will be used during an opening ceremony in Qingdao, where the Olympic sailing regattas will take place.
“We feel very honored to be able to contribute once again to the world’s most prestigious sporting event,” said Christian Engsted, CEO of Martin Professional. “The MAC 2000 Wash has extremely high brightness and reach. Together with its proven reliability, these characteristics make it the ideal fixture for occasions of this scale. Martin’s position as an industry leader with an extensive global presence enables us to supply the record quantities of fixtures required for events like these, while our support network ensures uninterrupted, first-class on-site service for the systems throughout the event.”
Some 80,000 spectators will experience the opening ceremony live at Beijing’s National Stadium, and the ceremony is also expected to attract the largest television audience of all time.
