The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 kicked off at the magnificent Lusail Stadium on 12 January 2024 with a spectacular opening ceremony. ’Mirrors, The Lost Chapter from the Book of Kelileh & Demneh‘ opening ceremony was based on the ancient fable of the same name. The stunning performance which celebrated the spirit of camaraderie across the diverse cultures of Asia, transcending borders and languages, was staged on the pitch that afterwards was rapidly cleared in time for the tournament kick off.
Katara Studios approached Cundall because of our extensive previous experience and expertise in the structural design for opening ceremonies and other large scale, global events. Cundall provided structural engineering services for the various technical components and for the aerial flying system used during the ceremony. We also reviewed the Lusail Stadium’s roof structural capacity to support the aerial flying system as well as all audio and video equipment required for the ceremony.
Akira Aguirre, Senior Engineer in London, says: “It was a fantastic experience to work with the creative and technical production team from Katara Studios and with their suppliers Stage One. Our collaboration ethos shone through this project as our Cundall team in Doha provided the local code compliance sign off.”
This world class opening ceremony raised the bar for pre-match entertainment not only from a technical point of view, but also due to its grandness and overall experience for the audience and participants.
