The Special Olympics European Summer Games take place every 4 years in one of Europe’s major cities. For the very first time in history, Belgium was the host country of this major sporting event. The 2014 edition was named “Games of the Heart” and took place in Antwerp. No less than 6.000 volunteers ensured the smooth running of more than 8.100 games. A variety of Belgian companies supported the Olympics, including ShowTex who contributed by providing the decorations for the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Special Olympics European Summer Games are an international sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. They keep the discussion about the social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities alive. In order to break the taboo on the subject, show director Steven Martin decided to bring the participants into the limelight and made the opening and closing ceremony all about faith and hope.

The Games were officially opened in Palais/Paleis 12 in Brussels during a magical ceremony conveying the message to believe in yourself in order to achieve great things. The show told the story of a young girl with an intellectual disability dreaming of a world without complexity and prejudice. A world where she falls in love and starts a family.

Large FP Blackout front projection screens by ShowTex were installed on stage to ensure a unique experience to the audience. Seven HiSpeed Roll-Up systems enabled the screens to move up and down independently emphasising the dynamic nature of the dream. A huge ShowLED Animation star cloth sparkled behind the stage. The integrated LED lights gave the set design an extra dimension, highlighting the infinity of the dream world.

The Special Olympics European Summer Games in 2014 came to an end with a spectacular closing ceremony at the Antwerp Sportpaleis. The show gathered more than 2,000 athletes from 58 different delegations who had been excelling in 10 different sporting disciplines.

During the closing ceremony, the little girl who was the star of the opening show looks back at the Games and all her dreams come true. Over 14,000 spectators could follow the entire show in detail on 2 big Blackout 270 projection screens by ShowTex. A ShowLED Animation backdrop again created a magical setting. Two 10m high wine red velvet curtains were theatrically draped on both sides of the stage.

ShowTex EasyDrape and black Molton curtains turned the backstage area into several changing rooms where the artists could easily get their make-up done and quickly change their costumes. EasyDrape allows quick build-up of temporary fabric walls and venue decoration and always ensures a sleek result.

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