Rhythm, passion and speed were the key concepts behind the opening ceremony of the 2006 Turin Olympic Games. The creative team formed by Marco Balich, Ric Birch, Alfredo Accatino, Lida Castelli and Mark Fisher wanted to translate this concept into a symbolically powerful, immediately understandable and spectacular element. This gave rise to the idea of Sparks of passion skaters. Marco Ballich and Lida Castelli tasked Lino Dainese with creating their superhero outfits. The technical project was entrusted to Vittorio Comi, a special effects expert who was tasked with developing a propulsion system that would produce trails of fire coming from the helmets of a group of eight skaters performing in line. The solution was found after several trials. The flame produced was environmentally friendly, using pulverised spores from Lycopodium Clavatum, a wild plant found in the Apennines and the Alps. This segment of the show celebrated passion, speed and Futurism, the Italian avant-garde. ‘Because passion burns, but above all, it lit you up.’ (Media Guide, Opening Ceremony, 2006).