Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies
Inclusion is the Revolution
Inclusion is the revolution that the Special Olympics is spearheading for those with intellectual disabilities. XPL was tasked with developing and producing an opening ceremonies to the USA Games in Seattle that helped rally the local city, a national television audience, and the global effort for Inclusion. The nearly three-hour spectacle, broadcast live by ESPN, involved over 3,000 volunteers, 5,000 delegation members, nearly 35,000 audience members and set the stage for the most ambitious USA Games the Special Olympics ever produced.
Sustainable and on Budget
The Games’ organizers were in a very difficult position, having lost their production team three months before the Opening. They needed a team who could work under extreme circumstances, pull together an A-level group of television writers, choreographers, talent directors, scenic designers, ground operations experts and technical specialists, and work with ESPN on its live broadcast. The Special Olympics got this and more, landing within 1% of their targeted budget and creating a ceremony that met their sustainability standards.
Event Type: Public Spectacle
Brand/Company: The Special Olympics
“XPL produced an extraordinary Opening Ceremony for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. With a very short planning runway, they exceeded expectations with their collaborative process, creative production, fiscal responsibility, and commitment to both the live and broadcast audiences.”