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At Commonwealth Games, the World's Largest Aerostat

Posted by timothy on from the more-interesting-than-the-sports dept.

GillBates0 writes "Last weekend saw the world's largest aerostat of its kind featured at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The helium balloon or aerostat measures 40x80x12 meters, contains 20,000 cubic meters of helium and features lights, mirrors, cameras, a 360 degree projection screen, projectors and a reflective underbelly. During the show, it was raised 25 meters off the ground and transformed into a giant Bodhi Tree and a meditating Buddha, with giant puppets to complement the cultural performances beneath. These slideshows tell the story."

8 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Re:It's a balloon by cappp · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah and Pamela Anderson just had a pair of breasts. For those of us who live on Earth, those things are pretty run of the mill.

  2. Re:It's a balloon by pegasustonans · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's a big balloon.

    Although it seems jaded, I have to say I agree.

    The photographs clearly illustrate a large decorative balloon.

    There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not exactly earth-shattering.

    --
    And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. --Will
  3. Aerostat not the only thing of note by jrumney · · Score: 3, Funny

    The video projections on the aerostat were pretty, but more remarkable is the size of Prince Charles's codpiece in photo number 4.

  4. Helium by TD-Linux · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So for the last month ./ has been running stories about how we are quickly depleting our remaining helium supplies, and now we're floating a TV with 20,000 m^3 of it?

    ... I don't know what to say.

  5. Re:Let me guess: by TheLink · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So why doesn't the US join in the games? They were a colony once right? ;)

    I find the Commonwealth Games rather amusing. After all how many countries would be able to pull the following off:

    1) Take over other countries (often via military force)
    2) Extract resources from those countries.
    3) Get kicked out by those other countries.
    4) Organize an event to celebrate the Commonwealth :).

    FWIW, I think the reason why the Brits can pull it off is in many cases they were actually better to/for the local population and country than the local rulers were...

    The other reason is you probably have to a Brit to be able to actually think this is such a great idea :).

    Imagine the Belgians or Dutch trying to hold their own Commonwealth Games. How many would want to show up?

    --
  6. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkSWE9UZjdE

    here's the video

  7. Re:Let me guess: by tanveer1979 · · Score: 3, Informative

    The later Moghul rulers were the murderous ones.
    Akbar was among the first, and is generally considered as a very good monarch.
    The last one (Aurgangzeb) was pretty murderous, and also imposed taxes on non muslims to get them to convert.

    --
    My Aurora : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o91ZsGwJYyg
    FB : https://www.facebook.com/TanveersPhotography
  8. Re:Let me guess: by stiggle · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not all members of the Commonwealth were British colonies.
    A number of other countries have applied to join anyway as they see a regional benefit to being a member.

    Mozambique - used to be a Portugese colony. Now a member of the Commonwealth (since 1995)
    Rwanda - used to be a Belgian & German colony. A member since 2009.

    Algeria & Madagascar have also both applied to join having no prior links to the British overseas