 |
|
|
|
|
|
Programme
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Olympic
Games
|
Rome
|
1960
|
|
Italy
|
| Daily Programmes 1960:
The daily programmes demanded extremely complex work in setting up and
execution. The time factor, precision and the urgent nature of the work
in fact rendered necessary a study on concrete bases and particular safeguards;
and in view of these vital requirements, recourse was also had to the experience
acquired in this sector by the management of preceding Olympic Games. In
Spring of 1958, a first project concerning the classification, printing,
circulation, distribution, and sale of programmes was drawn up. This complex
general plan provided for: a) the type of covers, b) type of individual
programmes (daily - periodical - single issues), c) contents of each programme
and number of pages, d) number of copies of each programme. In addition,
the project also included an accurate analysis of the necessary precautions
to be taken during the work so as to eliminate as far as possible the underlying
causes of possible errors or difficulties in the printing and circulation.
In May 1960 the " Programme Centre " was set up and preparations made for
an office which was charged with the collection of all the data to be inserted
in the programmes. At first the editing was limited to a small number of
experts with special experience in this type of work. The editing staff
was gradually increased until the point was reached where there was an
editor, plus assistants, for each sport on the programme. In view of the
fact that the work would have implied considerable difficulties of realization
if carried out by a single printing press, a publishing agreement was decided
upon with four printing firms and the necessity of anticipating and studying
all guarantees necessary for the urgent compilation of programmes was recognized.
On the basis of a calculation regarding the number of copies and the
number of pages of each programme, in May 1960 it was decided to take the
opportunity of setting aside the quantity of paper necessary for the texts
and the covers. Thus a million sheets, equivalent to 2,000 reams, for the
texts and 145,000 sheets, equivalent to 290 reams, for the covers were
purchased. Meanwhile, the editing staff intensified the work of collecting
all data which it was intended to insert in the texts (winners of previous
Olympic Games and world and Olympic record-holders - times and order of
events - clarification and explanations) and began the setting up and compilation
of the type sets of the programmes themselves on the following bases: -
a) for the cover: two-colour background printing, with reproduction
of the sports venue covering the entire two outside
pages; abbreviations of the
participating nations and outline of the general
programme in the two inside pages;
b) for the texts: world and Olympic record-holders; extracts from
technical regulations; timetable; list of athletes
entered; preface; information;
graphs and other useful news. |
| The preparation of the programmes entered into its most intense work
phase from the first ten days of August 1960 onwards, with a resultant
recruiting of new qualified personnel and the subsequent burden of rapid
printing by night. On the basis of the projects worked out with the editing
body, 52 programmes were printed, each of them fulfilling different technical
requirements. The work was effected in two stages: in the first stage the
covers and the fixed compositions were printed; in the second stage final
agreements were reached with the printing presses for the variable content
of programmes (names of the athletes participating in the individual events
and results of the events of the previous day). Since these could only
be passed over from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight each day, this implied a consequent
feverish activity from 10 p.m. approximately to 7 a.m.; however, it was
always effected in good time for the distribution of programmes in the
stadia, in the Press Centre, and at points of affluence of the public.
With this premise, we now give a synthetic outline showing the type
of daily programmes with the respective number of pages and relevant circulation,
sale, and return. (Table No. 12). As already indicated, for all the events
52 edition of various types were printed with a total circulation of 862,000
copies, of which 415,000 at the price of 200 lire per copy and 347,000
at the price of 150 lire per copy. Of the total circulation of programmes,
the Organizing Committee held back, for the needs of the organization as
well as for distribution of free copies, etc., 39,200 copies of the type
at 200 lire and 107,526 copies of the type at 150 lire.
On the basis of experience gained in previous Olympic Games it was clearly
shown that the production of daily programmes was never a profitable business
from an economic point of view, and that rather it always constituted a
considerable financial loss, partly also on account of the difficulties
of simultaneous distribution to distant parts of the world. It was, however,
considered that the setting up of the programmes of the Rome Olympic Games
would reach the desired objectives, namely, worthy covers for the programme,
meticulous study of technical data, precision and correctness of contents,
timely production of programmes destined for the Organizing Committee and
for sale. However, the sale of programmes cannot be said to have been a
success.
(Source document: Official
report 1960 Vol. 1, page 378) |
|
