On December 5, 2009, the Opening Ceremony of the fifth East Asian Games was held at – and in – Hong Kong’s world-renowned Victoria Harbor. The ceremony was unique in many respects and diverged from traditional opening ceremonies held at other international sporting games.
Lu Jiankang, General Manager of Beijing Olympic Large-scale Cultural and Sports Activities Ltd., was responsible for the production, an innovative concept that used Victoria Harbor as a grand stage and the skyline of Hong Kong as a spectacular background.
Jiankang used nearly 300 Martin Professional automated luminaires to create stunning maritime lighting scenes. The lighting package included 206 MAC 2000 Wash XBs™, 48 MAC 2000 Profiles™, 40 MAC 2000 Washes™, the largest number of automated lights ever used in an outdoor performance in Hong Kong. Most of the Martin lights were located on boats or barges out in the Harbour with some positioned on shore.
The “river stage” featured cruise ship parades and cultural performances coupled with lighting effects and fireworks displays. Jiankang, who worked on the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, commented that the East Asian Games broke the traditional practice of opening ceremonies in that it was located outdoors and not in a stadium. It also set several opening ceremony records including those for biggest background, largest stage, and largest audience.
Martin intelligent lights as well as lasers lit up Victoria Harbour as delegations from China, Korea, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong and other countries and regions entered the harbour on nine colourful boats. Four interpretative performances followed (Hong Kong Fishing Boat Lights, Vibrate City, Blessing Hong Kong and The Convergence of Kowloon), which depicted the development of Hong Kong from a small fishing village to an international metropolis. Singers Alan Tam, Andy Lau, Joey Yung and Hacken Lee debuted on a shining stage followed by a special drum and dance performance and cruise ship parade. After the official opening of the Games, a spectacular fireworks display commenced over Victoria Harbour.
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