Technical aspects 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

at technical rehearsal of opening ceremony

technical director piers shepperd masterminded complex change rural industrial during pandemonium . 7 inflatable chimneys made airworks, , varied in height (three 22-metre (72 ft), 2 23-metre (75 ft) , 2 30-metre (98 ft) high). made of soft fabric, outer layer of printed brick pattern. each contained 4 industrial fans @ base inflate them, , smoke machine near top, , hoisted air overhead rigs. life-size beam engines constructed onstage teams of stage hands , members of volunteer staging team. @ climax of pandemonium , in olympic ring forging scene, amber lights lit in sequence created illusion of 30-metre (98 ft) molten steel river, pyrotechnic smoke , dry ice steam. original grass floor surface had been removed reveal giant stylised map of london.

working alongside professional crew on 800 volunteers; production arts students british drama schools. many had been working on olympic , paralympic ceremonies since 2012 @ 3 mills studios , dagenham rehearsal sites, before moving stadium on 16 june.

the thousands of cast cued , co-ordinated directions received through earphones ( in-ear monitors ), , adjustments made during performance: example during pandemonium volunteers sent make sure turf cleared on time. earphones carried continuous electronic metronomic four-beat keep walking , moving in time music.

in july 2013 revealed on morning of ceremony, britain s surveillance headquarters gchq had detected credible cyber attack threat have killed lighting system in stadium. counter-measures taken, , in afternoon contingency plans discussed government ministers @ meeting in cabinet office briefing room. however, attack never materialised.