Ashgabat 2017 – 5th AIMAG CLOSING CEREMONY

— The art of making things massive in a spectacular celebration of the Turkmen culture.

“Wondrous Wind” was the title of the ceremony that involved more than 4,500 performers: from the Kopetdag mountains to the shores of the Caspian Sea, Wondrous Wind took us on a spectacular journey across Turkmenistan, as the Ashgabat 2017 Games were heading towards the end and thousands of competing athletes were celebrating their achievements.

The set design was characterized by a central ring measuring 30m diameter, suspended 30m above the field of play by a complex set of catenary cables spanning the length and the width of the venue. The central ring grid weighed 45,000kg with thousands of metres of cable, which was required to keep it suspended in the air. One massive projection curtain of 27m diameter descended around the central stage area. A custom stage lift of 12m depth, 20m in diameter and 30,000kg weight, revealing scenes, cast and sets.

Props and scenic elements were protagonists of the show with 1 yurt projection structure of 30m diameter, 1 hot air balloon, 1 kinetic wave, 1 zoetrope sphere, 4 clouds, 9 boats, 3 windsurfs, 3 surfs, 550 cotton props, 300 sea props, 550 blossoming capes, 36 drums, 9 lanterns, 100 LED bikes and helmets.

• 742

  team from 39 nations

• 4,506

  Performers, 521 Professional performers (dancers, singers, musicians), 1,622 Volunteers

• 200

  Musicians involved in recordings

• 75,000

  costumes items