A national flag once drenched in an Olympic medallist’s sweat, event schedules and pins are just some reminders still cherished by the TT members of the design and production team for the 1996 Olympic Games opening ceremony.

But memories of the mayhem, magic, pride and emotions remain in their hearts and minds 25 years later.

The 1996 Olympic Games marked the 100th anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games. It was held in Atlanta, Georgia, US.

Olympic opening ceremonies are generally a big deal. But what made that year even more special was that masman Peter Minshall was one of the main designers.

[caption id="attachment_904588" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Mas designer Peter Minshall during the launch of his 2018 Carnival presentation, Mas Pieta at Alberto Street, Port-of-Spain. Minshall was one of the main designers for the opening ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic games in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

He was also an integral part of the ceremonies for the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain and the Winter Games at Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002, winning an Emmy award for the latter.

But at Atlanta, Minshall, along with members of his Callaloo Company, showed the world what TT Carnival and mas look like on an even larger scale.

The ceremony had around 3.5 billion viewers globally and there were approximately 85,000 people in the stadium.

There was the countdown, fireworks, a roaring crowd, silence – and the magic of the mas began. Blue, white, gold, silver, black, red and green fabrics and costumes came to life at the Olympic stadium, along with rhythmic drumming.

The dazzling presentation featured Minshall’s iconic “dancing mobiles,” which left the crowd in awe.

He was the costume designer for Call to Nations – where the Olympic rings are formed – and artistic director and costume designer for a later segment, Summertime: Storm and Rebirth.

The team worked with the likes of US filmmaker and choreographer Kenny Ortega – who directed Hocus Pocus and High School Musical – as well as choreographer Judy Chabola, among others.

[caption id="attachment_904570" align="alignnone" width="877"] Artisans assembling and decorating costumes for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics opening ceremony. Photo courtesy Kathryn Chan -[/caption]

'The work never stopped'

There was a team in Trinidad and a team in Atlanta. They’d communicate using fax machines and e-mails – and barely got any sleep.

Cecilia Salazar, who was production manager at the Callaloo Company in Chaguaramas, told Sunday Newsday the project was “a mammoth and phenomenal undertaking.”

She said tears of joy filled her eyes when she reviewed the footage last week.

She hailed it as “one of the best openings ever,” saying, “every part of that field was alive.

“Thousands of costumes, alive with flowers and butterflies…and you just think, ‘Wow, it really takes an artist like Minshall to bring that piece of art alive.' It’s almost unbelievable to think we did all of that.”

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