A bullish approach to sustainability
What : Commonwealth Games ceremonies Where : Alexander Stadium When : 28 July & 8 August Image : Matt Wreford
Birmingham Ceremonies Ltd was launched last year to deliver the 30,000-capacity opening and closing ceremonies of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games . The aim of the joint venture , formed by Gary Beestone Associates ( GBA ) and Done + Dusted , was to create efficiencies in the event production process while setting the creative bar high for the opening and closing ceremonies . The events were not short of spectacular moments , not least a passionate homecoming performance by Ozzy Osbourne , but perhaps the most dramatic was the arrival of a 10-metrehigh armoured bull during the opening ceremony . The bull was pulled on stage by 50 women representing the female chain-makers of the Industrial Revolution , who later broke free from their chains to symbolise release from oppression .
The Commonwealth Games Federation pledged to deliver the first carbonneutral Commonwealth Games and so Birmingham Ceremonies executive producer Zoë Snow and GBA director Gary Beestone focussed heavily on sustainability , working closely with events sustainability consultant Selina Donald .
“ The organising committee required us to have sustainability as a priority throughout every part of our plans , so it was a massive challenge because by their very nature one-off events aren ’ t very sustainable ,” says Beestone .
Suppliers ’ sustainability credentials were closely examined as part of the procurement process , and in line with the wider event Birmingham Ceremonies focussed on reducing the impact of travel , with no air travel or air freight involved .
“ For the first time ever , on any event I ’ ve worked on , there was not a single car parking space available at the venue . All our workforce used buses to travel to Alexander Stadium ,” says Beestone .
Snow says Donald was brought on board at the outset : “ Selina sat in the first production meeting and embedded the focus on sustainability with the supplies from the outset . She was also involved in the design process working alongside production designer Misty Buckley .”
The Ceremonies were the first largescale shows to use carbon calculator TRACE , which captured the full scope of show delivery from transportation , scenic materials , graphics , and catering to energy generating , to show the carbon footprint calculation in real-time . Birmingham Ceremonies also used the tool to estimate and compare different design and delivery approaches , using environmental data to shape decision making .
Says Beestone , “ It meant rejecting creative ideas that were fundamentally unsustainable and taking an approach that involved repurposing things within the shows . We had a big set for the opening ceremony but so much of it was hired , including all the LED screens , and all the trussing and steel work was reusable . Sustainability was front of mind during every step of the design process .”
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