The city of Shanghai, China, hosts the12th Special Olympics World SummerGames in 2007. The Games are broadcastinternationally on a vast scale.Participation is at a record high --bringing together more than 7,500athletes from 164 countries take part.
These Games debut a new initiativecalled Young Athletes, aimed at childrenwith intellectual disabilities ages 2 to 7.
“The opening ceremony was visually striking with dazzling lighting, fireworks, costumes, and overwhelmingly emotional music.” -BBC
“Chinese President Hu Jinatao kicked off the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games here last night, capping a remarkable turn around in China’s official treatment of people with mental disabilities.” –The Wall Street Journal
“The opening ceremony was visually striking with dazzling lighting, fireworks, costumes, and overwhelmingly emotional music.” -BBC
“Chinese President Hu Jinatao kicked off the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games here last night, capping a remarkable turn around in China’s official treatment of people with mental disabilities.” –The Wall Street Journal
The opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics was the first major international broadcast emanating from modern day China. Eighty thousand fans filled Shanghai stadium as hundreds of millions of viewers around the world tuned in. The theme, “Harmony: The Common Dream of Humanity” captured the country's ancient culture, and promoted the spirit of harmony among the 165 nations that participated.
My first mega event experience involves lighting coordination(moving lights), follow-spots show-calling with 36 follow spots and operators speaking 3 different languages. It was one of the biggest professional challenges I took on and I'm still proud that I did it. It still gives me goosebumps everytime when I try to relive that moment.