COCA-COLA OLYMPIC SHOWS

The Bavaria-based company Laserland stages the Coke Olympic Shows during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

The whole world had come to Athens, and with the help of Bavaria-based Laserland they were treated not only to the very best in sport, but also the very best in multimedia show technology. The main sponsor Coca Cola and the official organizers Athens 2004 commissioned Laserland to stage the Coke Olympic Shows throughout the entire duration of the games. Thousands of visitors witnessed the regular evening shows, a supreme technical mix of water, lasers, light, video and music blending to form a colorful show representing the Olympic idea.

The event was held at the Water Plaza in Piraeus, a new port in Athens in an attractive setting and surrounded by a large number of Olympic sites. The main feature of the Coca Cola site was a four meter high, partially buried Coca Cola bottle which was lit up in a deep red. Behind this Laserland created a semicircular water screen, some 35 meters wide and 16 meters high, rising from the mists and on which the audience was able to see all the multimedia elements of the Coke Olympic Show with absolute clarity, thanks to the very latest technology. To achieve this, a new product on the multimedia market was used: Two of the brightest air-cooled 16 watt white-light DPSS laser systems were responsible for setting the very highest standards in terms of color intensity. Despite their enormous power, air-cooled white-light DPSS lasers are energy-efficient and can be used with any normal power outlet. Supported by a water-cooled 12 watt white light laser, a YAG laser, 16 Intelligent Lights, a laser workstation and two video projectors, the two shows lasting ten and four minutes respectively were able to draw ever increasing audiences night after night. At its peak, the Coca Cola Pavilion was host to over 8000 visitors. The initial design of the two shows started at the beginning of the year, and they were ready to go in the middle of 2004. During the tendering process for the Coke Olympic Shows, the Laserland global network concept and the attendant synergy effects were a telling factor. The Greek subsidiary Laserland Hellas was able to beat off competition from companies the world over, and commissioned Laserland Germany with the implementation. Two shows were developed, each showing a wide range of different Olympic disciplines and bringing out all the emotion of competition. This was enhanced by music created especially for the event and licensed from Walt Disney, which made the Coke Olympic Shows an experience for all the senses - first-class sport and first-class technology in perfect harmony.