The Sochi Olympiad "Overture" was a real Beautifulness. The act of Peter the Great and all other that used the ground as background scenario are derived from constant improvements of the optical technology gathered in years f trial and researches.
Similar optical tricks were previouly used in Circus and planetarium systems. In my book Slava LOMO there is a chapter regretably small where tecnologies of Three dimensions and Kinopanorama are described. These principles were used for a great effect seen world over I was impressed how those concepts are still applied with the new accepted media.
It was a school and a show of good taste and knowledge that shall never die while in hands of skilled personnel.