Marco Balich, a figure who has orchestrated 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies alongside numerous other global events including the Qatar World Cup and regional games from the Pan American to Asian Games, reflects on his diverse career path. Beyond sports, his portfolio includes organizing tours for Pink Floyd, U2, and the Rolling Stones, as well as creating music videos for artists like Jovanotti and Laura Pausini. Balich describes himself not merely as a producer but as someone who executes complex projects with significant emotional impact, ranging from Mexico's Bicentennial to Dolce&Gabbana fashion weeks.
Born in Venice, Balich credits his upbringing in a city where wealth and poverty coexist amidst constant cultural events like the Biennale and Carnival for shaping his perspective. He recalls skipping school to work as a DJ at parties hosted by De Michelis during his high school years at Marco Polo. His parents were an attorney with modest ambitions and a strict English professor at Ca' Foscari University. Now a separated father of four children aged between 19 and 22, Balich remains deeply connected to his hometown.
Regarding the suggestion by Arrigo Cipriani that he should run for mayor of Venice, Balich states he has not closed the door on the possibility, though he admits he is not yet psychologically prepared for political compromises. If elected, his platform would include making the city fully electric and hydrogen-powered by 2030, capping Airbnb rentals to allow young people to return, and implementing a single annual entry ticket of around 20 euros to manage overtourism. He emphasizes that preserving Venice's identity is a duty, lamenting the loss of local artisans and the commercialization of traditional masks.
Balich's Balich Wonder Studio, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, generated 320 million euros in revenue in 2022 before declining due to global conflicts. The company employs 240 people across Milan, Dubai, and Riyadh and recently sold a 51% stake to Banijay, a global leader in TV formats. Balich takes pride in establishing an industry in Milan that was previously dominated by studios in New York, Los Angeles, and London, noting his mantra: "Better to be the last team in the strongest league than the first in the yard."
The interview reveals several colorful anecdotes from his career. He recounts organizing an Indian wedding at Borgo Egnazia for 18 million euros after initially refusing the bride's father until he was provoked into accepting any price. Regarding logistical challenges, Balich recalls the 2006 Turin Olympics where he had to ensure Peter Gabriel and Yoko Ono did not share a stage, as Gabriel refused to speak to her due to her role in the Beatles' breakup. In Turkmenistan during the Asian Games, he threatened to cancel the ceremony unless the government lifted its ban on alcohol for the 900 international technicians.
On the subject of artistic direction, Balich praises the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio ceremonies as masterpieces but found the 2008 Beijing opening unemotional, citing the uniformity of the volunteers. He prefers his role in event production over filmmaking, joking that if forced to choose between directing films like Danny Boyle or Zhang Yimou, he would rather be mayor. Looking ahead, he is set to direct an immersive three-dimensional performance of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" at the Arena di Verona this August, aiming to reintroduce the composer to new generations beyond his use as background music.
Sources: Corriere della Sera.