Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics – Chandelier
Total Solutions Group was awarded contracts for various pieces of scenery and other equipment for the opening and closing ceremonies at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. TSG were asked to manufacture a 25 metre tall chandelier, oval on plan 15 metres x 10 metres. The specification was that it also needed to be able to split, in order to reveal a 12 piece orchestra. It was required to be able to come through the vomitory and deploy on its way into the roof of the stadium, display the show and then disappear out of the other end. This was a bit of a brain teaser but a challenge TSG were definitely up for. The dolly was the biggest TSG have ever made at 10 metre long x 4 metre wide x 3 metres tall and needed to ensure it was able to deal with the considerable 6,500kg weight of the chandelier. The chandelier had 18 levels all of which were a scaled down version of the one below it, each with 8 candelabras with either 6 or 12 randomly flickering LED candles (1,100 in total). The chandelier was covered with 17,500 beads made up of 16 different sizes. The beads were then supported by 112 wire lines that were not to snag between close and open! The whole chandelier was polished in a bespoke gold finish which resulted in an elegant look. The completed chandelier was a show stopper and a piece of real beauty for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
