At the 1932 Olympic Games, it was possible
to adopt the system customary in the U.S.A. of one price category, or at
the most two. In Berlin, however, it was necessary to take into consideration
the entirely different financial circumstances and habits of European lovers
of sport. This led us to base our division into categories on the system
followed in Amsterdam, where, moreover, season tickets for the different
sports had been sold. As contrasted with 324 different kinds of tickets
in Amsterdam, there were 166 in Los Angeles, and 660 in Berlin.
The Printing of the Tickets:
The tickets were designed by the artist Werner
Beucke and printed by the Giesecke & Devrient Press of Leipzig which
specializes in the printing of securities. The firms, Bajanz & Studer,
Berlin, and Bireka A. G., Staaken, provided tickets for the elimination
rounds as well as tickets needed shortly before or during the Olympic Games
(for example, for the repetition of the Festival Play).
Three principles governed the production
of the tickets:
1. The print, size and colour of the tickets:
as well as the order of the necessary particulars printed on the
tickets, must be such
that the many types can be differentiated at a glance.
2. Forgeries must be made practically impossible.
3. The ticket should be an artistic souvenir.
The tickets were divided into four principal
types.
1. Tickets for the Olympic Stadium.
They were distinguished from the tickets for
all other centres where contests were held by their size: 5 X 2.8
inches. In the centre was a picture of the Olympic Stadium from an
original woodcut. The six colours for 1st and 2nd stand seats, 3rd
stand seats on the east side and on the west side, standing room on the
east side and standing room on the west side, were different for the first
and second weeks. On the back of the ticket was a plan of the Olympic Stadium.
2. Tickets for other centres of
competition.
They were 5.2 X 2.4 inches. In the centre
was the Olympic Bell. It was also impossible in this case to have different
colours for each category. Therefore a different colour was merely used
for each site. On the back of the tickets was a plan showing the location
of the different sites.
3. Tickets placed on sale after July 1st,
1936.
The danger of forgery was not great in the
case of these tickets. They were therefore given a simpler form. They were
principally tickets for the art exhibition, for the handball and football
elimination rounds, half-day and similar tickets. In order to be prepared
for unforeseen eventualities, 100,000 general tickets without dates or
mention of location were printed in nine categories. It was necessary
to use these tickets in several instances.
4. Blanket Passes.
These were special tickets of two types. One
was of the same size as the Olympic Stadium tickets and valid only
for this site. The other one, which was 5.2 X 2.4 inches, with no place
indication, was valid for all events and performances. These passes were
for visitors who could prove that their tickets had been lost. In special
cases they were also used to fulfil urgent requirements for complimentary
tickets, to permit the entry of groups in mass formation and for other
special arrangements.
(Source document: Official
Report 1936, Vol. I, page 481) |
