China - Lighting designer Durham Marenghi specified individual i-Pix BB4 LED cells to up-light the performers onboard the special double decker London bus in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics 'Handover' sections of the 2008 Beijing Olympics & Paralympics Closing Ceremonies.

The two Handover events took place three weeks apart in the Birds Nest stadium, and were integral elements of both Games' Closing Ceremonies.

Marenghi chose BB4 cells - high power homogenized 20 degree RGB lightsources - because they were "efficient, bright and low power". There were 24 individual units bordering each of the two scissor lift platforms either end of the bus, and 20 on the central hydraulic ram lift.

The bus was designed by Stufish, and the BB4s - along with other lighting elements - were integrated into it by Stage One, who customised the whole vehicle for the shows.

(Jim Evans)


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