Could Social Media Spoil the Opening Ceremony?

VANCOUVER – For two and a half years, since the team producing the opening and closing ceremonies for the Vancouver Olympic Games was put in place, the content of the ceremonies has been a closely guarded secret.

Participants have signed non-disclosure agreements and have been reminded at every turn that they’re not to reveal anything about the ceremonies – not even to family or friends. The creative team has been cagey in interviews, careful not to provide any hint of what the audience can expect on Feb. 12. Maintaining the element of surprise has been a top priority.

But when thousands of spectators are allowed in for dress rehearsals at B.C. Place next week before Friday’s opening ceremony, observers say it’s impossible that those secrets will remain under wraps.

“You start opening up a performance event with spectators and you want to maintain a high level of secrecy, I just don’t see how it’s even conceivable,” said Richard Smith, a professor of the school of communication at Simon Fraser University. “Certainly people will talk and when people talk, things no longer stay contained.”

Dr. Smith, an expert in social media, said in the age of Twitter and Facebook, he can’t imagine that people will keep mum – even if they do sign a non-disclosure agreement. “Every little blogger on the planet is thinking: ‘Well I could get a reprimand, but think of the hits.’ “

Read the rest: CTV Olympics – Social media set to spoil opening-ceremony surprise

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