3D technology powered by twin cables will debut at a spectacular opening ceremony. The event will feature two background dancers suspended in the air above the stage, creating a striking visual against the tidal backdrop of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou. The scene is set for the opening of the Asian Games, as audiences witness a fusion of art and technology that pushes the boundaries of live performance.
The Qiantang River is renowned for its famous ebb and flow, a natural spectacle that draws visitors to Zhejiang Province in East China. Each year, enormous waves crash against the riverbanks near Haining, drawing tourists and locals alike who come to witness this powerful natural display and its characteristic surges. The forthcoming opening ceremony aims to echo that grand rhythm, aligning the performance with the river’s legendary momentum.
As Hangzhou readies the ceremony, rehearsal momentum has intensified at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, the venue chosen for the grand debut. The arena is being transformed to accommodate a choreography that takes place high above the floor, where gravity and wind present real challenges for the dancers and crew who have never performed with such a setup in a large space.
Performing in the air as a couple, supported by steel cables and pulleys, requires immense precision and trust. The artists face a formidable task, given that the cables must be managed with 3D guidance while maintaining exact timing and form. The opening ceremony is poised to feature a groundbreaking use of this technology, marking the first large-scale application in a major sports venue rather than a smaller stage setting. This milestone showcases the collaboration of performers, engineers, and designers to bring a new dimension to the spectacle.
Traditionally, aerial dancers rely on strong chords of muscle and control to shape their movements. With two cables guiding the performers, the choreography demands continuous engagement of core strength and total body awareness. When the dancers tire from strenuous ascent or ascent-related maneuvering, the ground cannot be relied upon for rest. Instead, continuous muscular tension and the precise pull of the cables sustain the performance, creating a seamless flow that feels almost supernatural. The opening ceremony’s lead performers emphasize that this demands a different kind of stamina and discipline, forged through weeks of specialized training.
Each artist will be lifted from multiple directions by four steel cables, allowing the couple to glide freely through three-dimensional space within the entire venue. The system enables 360-degree rotations and movements across length, width, and height, not limited to vertical motions. This design also permits horizontal sweeps toward every corner of the arena, enabling dynamic transitions that would be impossible with conventional rigging. The integration of orange-coded 3D wire feeding and precise control marks a leap forward in performance technology, illustrating how engineering and artistry can converge to redefine live shows.
The engineering team explains that the double cable system provides unprecedented flexibility. In the past, single-line cables restricted performers to vertical motion within a narrow zone. With dual cables and 3D guidance, operators can move performers in all directions, achieving complex spatial paths that synchronize with lighting, sound, and scenic effects. The result is a more immersive experience for spectators, one that captures the ebb and flow of a tidal landscape while demonstrating the practical potential of synchronized motion control in large venues.
By portraying tidal imagery inspired by the Qiantang River, the design team seeks to embody the harmony between human ingenuity and natural force, transforming art, power, and beauty into a unified expression at the opening ceremony. The concept envisions various tide forms, including cross tides, linear tides, and shimmering patterns reminiscent of fish-scale tides, to symbolize the diverse positions and responses people hold in facing the currents of their era. The creative leadership notes that the performance is meant to convey resilience and solidarity in the face of change.
The general director of the games opening ceremony notes that the event will not only celebrate sport but also highlight the cultural and technological evolution of Hangzhou and the broader Zhejiang region. The 19th Asian Games are scheduled from September 23 to October 8 and will take place across Hangzhou and five other cities in eastern Zhejiang. The games will feature 481 events across 61 disciplines within 40 sports, hosted in 54 competition venues, reflecting a wide-ranging celebration of athletic excellence and regional innovation. This marks the third time China has hosted the Asian Games, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.