Olympic Games The Design

The first publication ever to focus on the visual identities of every Olympic Game, from Athens 1896 to Tokyo 2020.

Designing the Olympics claims that the Olympic Games provide opportunities to reflect on the relationship between design, national identity, and citizenship. The "Olympic design milieu" fans out from the construction of the Olympic city and the creation of emblems, mascots, and ceremonies, to the consumption, interpretation, and appropriation of Olympic artifacts from their conception to their afterlife. Besides products that try to achieve consensus and induce civic pride, the "Olympic design milieu" also includes processes that oppose the Olympics and their enforcement. The book examines the graphic design program for Tokyo 1964, architecture and urban plans for Athens 2004, brand design for London 2012, and practices of subversive appropriation and sociotechnical action in counter-Olympic movements since the 1960s. It explores how the Olympics shape the physical, legal and emotional contours of a host nation and its position in the world; how the Games are contested by a broader social spectrum within and beyond the nation; and how, throughout these encounters, design plays a crucial role. Recognizing the presence of multiple actors, the book investigates the potential of design in promoting equitable political participation in the Olympic context.

From the creation of emblems to the building of stadiums, design is paramount in the making of every Olympic Games. The designers' task is to express the core ideas of Olympism and internationalism, and to represent or even rebrand the host nation's identity. In examining how Olympics design communicates these different types of identity, this article presents some characteristic approaches of designers throughout the Games' history who chose familiar iconographies (e.g., Yusaku Kamekura, whose design for the Tokyo 1964 emblem carried a symbol reminiscent of Japan's flag) and others who strove for new expressions (e.g., Wolff Olins' 2012 emblem that embodied no visual connection to London). It further reveals a range of visual languages developed for sports pictograms articulating different ideas of internationalism and place-based identity, from Otl Aicher's grid-based approach for Munich 1972 to Lance Wyman's iconic language for Mexico City 1968.

A chronological overview of the visual identity of all Olympic Games. Includes information about the respective Olympic Games and their designers. Contains 6000 images featuring examples from the main design fields of the Olympic Games such as emblems, mascots, sports and signage pictograms, typefaces, medals, uniforms, admission tickets, posters, and the Look of the Games.

This book explains how modern Olympic games can successfully develop a more sustainable design approach by learning from the lessons of the past and by taking account of the latest developments.

Hosting the Olympic Games reveals the true costs involved for the cities that hold these large-scale sporting events. It uncovers the financing of the Games, reviewing existing studies to evaluate the costs and benefits, and draws on case study experiences of the Summer and Winter Games from the past forty years to assess the short- and long-term urban legacies for host cities. Written in an easily accessible style and format, it provides an in-depth critical analysis into the franchise model of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and offers an alternative vision for future Games. This book is an important contribution to understanding the consequences for the host cities of Olympic Games.

Is there a bigger challenge for a designer than the creation of an identity for the Olympic Games ? Each venue has developed its own unique image, merging national spirit and international trends with the Olympic spirit of friendship, solidarity and fairness. "Olympic Games : the design" provides an in-depth overview of the history of the Games, with for the first time the visual appearance in the center of attention: logos, mascots, medals, pictograms, uniforms, tickets, luggage tags, posters, souvenirs and much more.

"This is a cleverly written and timely book. New Society Publishers have managed to put a well-designed paperback on the market just in time to wage a war of words, on the tail end of a province-wide gag law. Indeed, the cloak of silence surrounding all things Olympic have taken us to new levels, as even the digits 2010, preceded by the name of our fair city, are considered fair game, and grounds for libel. A historical perspective on the original intent and players in the Games from the days of their creation answers trivia quesitons like" who was the first athlete to win the gold?", while adding a nostalgic touch, and the chapter on dissent and resistance of the Olympics in other cities brings the whole book into international focus." - Christina Ferrero, Epoch Times The shiny rings of the Olympic Games have grown tarnished over the years as doping, corruption, and other scandals rise to the surface. Those scandals are the tip of the iceberg, according to author Christopher A. Shaw, the lead spokesperson for several anti-Games groups. Five Ring Circus details the history of how Vancouver won the bid for the 2010 Games, who was involved, and what the real motives were. It describes the role of corporate media in promoting the Games, the machinations of government and business, and the opposition that emerged. Disturbing questions come to light: Why does the International Olympic Committee pay no taxes? Who are the real estate developers behind the Vancouver bid? Why are mega projects paid for with tax dollars? What are the true costs of the Games? The Olympic Games, once considered the pinnacle of athleticism and fair play, have become a cesspool of greed, backroom deals, and the wholesale trampling of civil liberties. In Vancouver, preparations for the 2010 Games have had a substantial negative impact on the environment and have resulted in the “economic cleansing” of the poor and homeless. This book is a cautionary tale for future Olympic bid cities, and will appeal to those concerned about the effects of globalization on many aspects of life. Christopher A. Shaw is a professor at the University of British Columbia. He is a founding member and lead spokesperson for the No Games 2010 Coalition and 2010 Watch. He lives in North Vancouver.