ChamSys on hand to light Olympic swimming trials

OMAHA, NE, USA – As competition heats up for this summer’s Olympics it’s not only the athletes drawing attention. Swimming trials are becoming a popular spectator event with cities competing fiercely to win the rights to host them. Omaha, Nebraska and the Century Link Center presented this seasons Olympic swimming trials on June 26 to July 3rd for the 3rd time since 2008. ChamSys lighting consoles provided control, programmed and operated by Andrew Smith.

Lighting, water fountains, pyro and flame effects combined to wow audiences using the arena’s pool surface and subsurface in the design. Lighting Director Bill Brennan utilized Luminsys 50K SoftSuns together with Robe BML’s and Points to add a maze of surface patterns patterns and still achieve required camera levels.

The show included two performances from “O” by Cirque du Soleil and special appearances by synchronized swimmers Bill May and Christina Jones, who also are artists with Cirque du Soleil. Over 200,000 people attended the events, many hoping to see Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, prior to his appearances at this summer’s 2016 Rio Games.

Lighting equipment was provided by TMS and Pulse Lighting. Lighting control was done on a Chamsys MQ100 with and Extra Wing Compact.

The pool isn’t permanent. Upwards of 200 crew built the pool inside the arena in around 2 weeks. You can find a time lapse of last year’s build here