We hear upbeat world music emanating from all around the pavilion. Today the wait in queue is only about 20 minutes and soon it's our turn to pass under a giant Coke bottle and hear the Sound of

Refreshment!

 

The Entry Doors open and we are greeted by cheering fans (Coca-Cola Olympics volunteers) as we begin our journey up the 120-ft long Olympic Quest Ramp. Moving up the Ramp we are immersed in a huge symphony of triumphant music. The music is an original score, composed and conducted by Tim Huling and performed by members of the Seattle Symphony.

Turning right at the top of the Ramp, we enter the Coca-Cola Heritage Gallery where we find some interesting Coke history, both in China and with the Olympics. The stylish glass display cases contain artifacts and replicas which are described by the knowledgeable volunteer guides. The pleasant, organic background music fills the air with themes expressed throughout the pavilion.

We exit the Heritage Gallery on a skywalk, crossing over the Olympic Quest Ramp. Here we enter the Shuang Theater, with it's super-wide letter box format (50 ft. wide) and 7.1 custom sound system.

The Super-wide Video, produced by Coca-Cola at Video Arts in San Francisco, for the Shuang Experience Theater presentation celebrates the long history of the Coca-Cola company in China as well as China's enthusiasm for the Olympics!

After the four-minute movie, we exit the Theater down a long serpentine corridor representing the 2008 Olympic Torch Run which took the famous torch on a tour through every province in China - an historic journey, sponsored by Coca-Cola. As we turn the corner going out of the Olympic Torch corridor, we look out over a grand view of ...

...the Media Arena. This wide-open, 30' high celebration space became a Mosh Pit in the evenings, complete with dozens of original videos and other media elements, full blown light shows and lively, pulsing soundtracks!

Just before leaving the Coca-Cola Shuang Experience pavilion on the Olympic Green, guests pass through a hip-hop nightclub area called Perfect Serve , where everyone gets an Ice Cold Coke! The Disco ambience is established by music from Casey James plus a variety of other pop artists. The Shuang Experience ends with super-cool programmed lights designed by Norm Schwab.

About the Gear:

One of my major challenge points was getting appropriate speakers and playback systems for the Coke and adidas Showcase facilities. Typically companies renting sound gear have monster-sized equipment to do big stage shows and outdoor PA systems - "blasters" I call them. We met with a dozen vendors in Beijing and Shanghai . Several would not even bid on the projects because our specs were so unusual. In the end, we found no company in China that would rent the kinds of systems necessary for created environmental and theatrical experiences we designed for the Coke Shaung Experience.

We worked out an agreement with Creative Technologies who also provided the video and control systems. They have offices worldwide. Ralph and I have worked with Chris Guthrie and Jolyon Beliz in the San Francisco office for twenty years. On these projects, we were also aided by company president Graham Andrews and Will Nealie of the CT/LA office.

The crew came from Los Angeles , San Francisco , Chicago and London . CT also supplied, installed and maintained video gear on the Olympic Green for Coke, Samsung and adidas.

The company's business is providing and supporting video, sound and internet/network systems, often using cutting-edge technologies. Over many years, CT has been an incredible asset where the rubber really does meet the road, at Showtime.

In order to properly realize the broad dimensions of the sound design for the Coke project, CT added hundreds of new speakers and other audio components necessary for (and unique to) this kind of work. Once again, from the highest level, Creative Technologies demonstrated the company's commit to finding a way, providing excellent results with excellent technicians and the right equipment, anywhere in the world.

AUDISEE's Senior Sound Engineer, Alain Brion, supervised the installation at both Coke and adidas.