Few live events have the power to draw an audience of billions, but the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics easily surpassed that landmark. The largest international sporting event of the 21st century was also the most technically complex Olympics ceremony ever, broadcast for the first time in High Definition and surround sound.
At the heart of it all was Meyer Sound's Matrix3 audio show control system, which managed all technical aspects of the performance, including audio, motion control, pyrotechnics, and lighting.
The audience of nearly 95,000 in National Stadium (widely known as the "Bird's Nest") included over 80 heads of state, international celebrities and VIPs, along with more than 17,000 performers. The crowd and viewers around the world were treated to an event like no other, including audio from a stunning Meyer Sound system designed by event technology specialist Gary Hardesty of Sound Media Fusion LLC (SMF).
http://www.meyersound.com/news/2008/olympics_ceremonies/
