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1952  Helsinki Summer Olympics

1952 Summer Olympics - Olympic Memorabilia

Winner Medals

 
1952 olympic winner medal 1 1952 olympic winner medal 2
GENERAL DATA OLYMPIC WINNER MEDALS 1952
1st Place: Gold Medal Material: Gilt Silver
    Weight 68 gr
2nd Place: Silver Medal Material: Silver
    Weight 68 gr
3rd Place: Bronze Medal Material: Bronze
    Weight 59 gr
Diameter: 51 mm Design by: Prof. Guiseppe Cassioli,
Florence, Italy
* 22.10.1865  + 05.10.1942
    Mint: Kultakeskus Oy
Thickness: 3,3 mm Ribbon: None
Obverse: Female seated above stadium.
Reverse: Winner carried by jubilant athletes.
Numbers of Medals: Gold:     320                  Silver:   320                      Bronze:   320
1952case1

  victor1952
The medal-winners in the Prix des Nations team, 1952
In front is Chile`s team, Great Britain is in the middle and the U.S.A. on the right.

 
   Prize Medal 1952

The Prize Medal - design by Professor Cassiola - was the same as in the two preceding Games. The wording »XV Olympia Helsinki 1952» on the obverse side was designed by the Finnish artist Aukusti Tuhka. The committee appointed in 1949 to consider the standardisation of medals, emblems and badges had submitted a proposal for a new Prize Medal, but this was rejected by the I.O.C. Congress in 1951.

The number of Prize Medals struck was 960 (320 Gold, 320 Silver and 320 Bronze).

(Source document:   Official Report 1952,  page 111)

Medal in presentation case

Participation Medal

 
1952 olympic participation medal 1 1952 olympic participation medal 2
GENERAL DATA OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION MEDAL 1952
Material: Bronze Weight: 77 gr
Diameter: 54 mm Design by: Kauko Räsänen
Thickness: 6 mm Mint: Veljekset Sundqvist Oy
Obverse: Stylized athletes` heads superimposed over the Olympic Stadium.
Reverse: Male and female athletes to left holding torches over Olympic rings.
pmed1952case
Presentation box
partdiploma1952
Participation Diploma 1952
Commemorative Medal 1952

An open competition for a commemorative medal was announced by the Organising Committee on April 22nd 1951. By the closing date, Oct. 30th, 35 sketches had been received by the board of judges. The winning design, by the young sculptor Kauko Räsänen, was adopted. The number of commemorative medals struck was 14 000.

(Source document:  Official report 1952, page 111)

Diploma


1952 olympic winner diploma



Diploma from EMIL ZATOPEK, Czechoslovakia, 1st place, 10.000 m
GENERAL WINNER-DIPLOMA INFORMATION 1952
Description: Paavo Nurmi`s monument in front of a Dorian column, inscribed "XV Olympiad Helsinki 1952", award legend below.
Size: 35 x 50 cm
Design by: IOC President Edström and
Organizing Committee President von Frenckel
Printed by: unknown
Signed by: Rolf Christianson
Copies: 1.800

1952bild

1st Emil Zatopek, Czechoslowakia
2nd   O`Kacha Alain Mimoun, France
3rd   Alexander Anufrijev U.S.S.R

The judges in a competition for the diploma, which closed on Sept. 15th 1951, found none of the designs submitted sufficiently dignified. The five prize-winners were invited to submit new designs. Of these the one by the artist Rolf Christianson was judged to be the best, and it also won the aproval of the Organising Committee. The diplomas were printed in Finnish and Swedish. Swedes, Danes, Norwegians and members of Finland`s Swedish-speaking population received diplomas with text in Swedish, all other Finnish diplomas. Diplomas were awarded to the six best in each event. The number printed was 1800, and they were forwarded to the respective National Olympic Committees at the end of 1952.

(Source document:   Official Report 1952,  page 111)

Badges

Badges 1952

The symbol of the Games, based on the Stadium tower, appeared on the metal badges worn by participants. In the so-called Golden Badge made for the highest dignitaries of the Games and guests of honour the enamel background of the symbol was pale blue; in the silver badges issued to Chefs de Mission, judges, Olympic attaches and leading officials of the Organising Committee the enamel was dark blue. All others wore bronze badges in which only the Olympic rings and Stadium were in colour.

1952 olympic games badge
The ribbons attached to the badges and their wording revealed the wearer's function. In spite of the 218 different ribbons officials would crop up whom none of the functions mentioned on the ribbons fitted. The badge measured 32 x 48 mm. The numbers made were 300 gold, 2,300 silver and 14,000 bronze.

(Source document:   Official Report 1952,  page 111)

List of all Official Badges 1952:
C.O.N., President
Chef de Mission, Adj.
Chef de Mission, Athletics
Chef de Mission, Basketball
Chef de Mission, Boxing
Chef de Mission, Canoeing
Chef de Mission, Cycling
Chef de Mission, Equestrian
Chef de Mission, Fencing
Chef de Mission, Football
Chef de Mission, Gen.
Chef de Mission, Gymnastics
Chef de Mission, Hockey
Chef de Mission, Modern Pentathlon
Chef de Mission, Rowing
Chef de Mission, Shooting
Chef de Mission, Swimming
Chef de Mission, Weightlifting
Chef de Mission, Wrestling
Chef de Mission, Yachting
Chief Official, Athletics
Chief Official, Basketball
Chief Official, Boxing
Chief Official, Canoeing
Chief Official, Cycling
Chief Official, Equestrian
Chief Official, Fencing
Chief Official, Football
Chief Official, Gymnastics
Chief Official, Hockey
Chief Official, Modern Pentathlon
Chief Official, Rowing
Chief Official, Shooting
Chief Official, Swimming
Chief Official, Weightlifting
Chief Official, Wrestling
Chief Official, Yachting
Coach, Athletics
Coach, Basketball
Coach, Boxing
Coach, Canoeing
Coach, Cycling
Coach, Equestrian
Coach, Fencing
Coach, Football
Coach, Gymnastics
Coach, Hockey
Coach, Modern Pentathlon
Coach, Rowing
Coach, Shooting
Coach, Swimming
Coach, Weightlifting
Coach, Wrestling
Coach, Yachting
IF, Athletics
IF, Basketball
IF, Boxing
IF, Canoeing
IF, Cycling
IF, Equestrian
IF, Fencing
IF, Football
IF, Gymnastics
IF, Hockey
IF, Modern Pentathlon
IF, Rowing
IF, Shooting
IF, Swimming
IF, Weightlifting
IF, Wrestling
IF, Yachting
IF President, Athletics
IF President, Basketball
IF President, Boxing
IF President, Canoeing
IF President, Cycling
IF President, Equestrian
IF President, Fencing
IF President, Football
IF President, Gymnastics
IF President, Hockey
IF President, Modern Pentathlon
IF President, Rowing
IF President, Shooting
IF President, Swimming
IF President, Weightlifting
IF President, Wrestling
IF President, Yachting
Invite d´Honneur
IOC, CIO
IOC, President
Judge, Athletics
Judge, Basketball
Judge, Boxing
Judge, Canoeing
Judge, Cycling
Judge, Equestrian
Judge, Fencing
Judge, Football
Judge, Gymnastics
Judge, Hockey
Judge, Modern Pentathlon
Judge, Rowing
Judge, Shooting
Judge, Swimming
Judge, Weightlifting
Judge, Wrestling
Judge, Yachting
Jury of Appeal, rt
Jury of Appeal, Athletics
Jury of Appeal, Basketball
Jury of Appeal, Boxing
Jury of Appeal, Canoeing
Jury of Appeal, Cycling
Jury of Appeal, Equestrian
Jury of Appeal, Fencing
Jury of Appeal, Gymnastics
Jury of Appeal, Hockey
Jury of Appeal, Modern Pentathlon
Jury of Appeal, Rowing
Jury of Appeal, Shooting
Jury of Appeal, Swimming
Jury of Appeal, Weightlifting
Jury of Appeal, Wrestling
Jury of Appeal, Yachting
Media, Osast.
Media, Osast. Radio
Media, Photo
Media, Photo-Film
Media, Press
Media, Presse
Media, Radio
Media, Toim.
Medicine, 1
Medicine, 2
Medicine, 3
Medicine, 4
Medicine, 5
Medicine, 6
Medicine, 7
Official, Athletics
Official, Basketball
Official, Boxing
Official, Canoeing
Official, Cycling
Official, Equestrian
Official, Fencing
Official, Football
Official, Gymnastics
Official, Hockey
Official, Modern Pentathlon
Official, Rowing
Official, Shooting
Official, Swimming
Official, Weightlifting
Official, Wrestling
Official, Yachting
Organizing Committee, Director
Organizing Committee, President
Participant, Art
Participant, Athletics
Participant, Basketball
Participant, Boxing
Participant, Canoeing
Participant, Cycling
Participant, Equestrian
Participant, Fencing
Participant, Football
Participant, Gymnastics
Participant, Hockey
Participant, Modern Pentathlon
Participant, Rowing
Participant, Shooting
Participant, Swimming
Participant, Weightlifting
Participant, Wrestling
Participant, Yachting
Team Captain, Athletics
Team Captain, Basketball
Team Captain, Boxing
Team Captain, Canoeing
Team Captain, Cycling
Team Captain, Equestrian
Team Captain, Fencing
Team Captain, Football
Team Captain, Gymnastics
Team Captain, Hockey
Team Captain, Modern Pentathlon
Team Captain, Rowing
Team Captain, Shooting
Team Captain, Swimming
Team Captain, Weightlifting
Team Captain, Wrestling
Team Captain, Yachting
Technician, Athletics
Technician, Basketball
Technician, Boxing
Technician, Canoeing
Technician, Cycling
Technician, Equestrian
Technician, Fencing
Technician, Football
Technician, Gymnastics
Technician, Hockey
Technician, Modern Pentathlon
Technician, Rowing
Technician, Shooting
Technician, Swimming
Technician, Weightlifting
Technician, Wrestling

Poster

1952 olympic games poster
GENERAL INFORMATION OLYMPIC POSTER 1952
Design by: Ilmari Sysimetsä
Size: 25,5 x 39 cm (small)
Copies small: 33.000
Size: 62 x 100 cm (large)
Copies: 82.000
Comment: The large poster was printed in
9 languages,
the small poster was printed in
20 languages

    The Poster as Olympic Banner

As a means of kindling enthusiasm for the Olympic Games and a reminder of their imminence the poster has its own special mission. The »Paavo Nurmi» poster designed for the 1940 Games by the Finnish artist Ilmari Sysimetsä needed only minor alterations to be suitable again. A new competition in 1950 brought forth 277 designs, not one of which, however, could measure with the »Nurmi» poster.

The seven-colour poster was printed in two sizes and 20 different languages early in 1951 and its distribution abroad begun in March the same year. In Finland the first posters appeared in the summer of 1951 in railway stations, post offices, bus stations and sporting clubs. It was not generally displayed until the spring of 1952, shortly before the Games. The 115 000 copies printed were spread over the different languages as follows:

1952 1a

(Source document:   Official Report 1952, page 113)

Cross and Medal of Merit Olympic Games 1952

By an Executive Order of July 21st 1952 a decoration, the Finnish Olympic Cross of Merit and Medal of Merit, was instituted, to be conferred by the President of the Republic for distinguished services in the XV Olympic Games.

The decoration was to be conferred as follows:
 

Cross of Merit I Class on

-  a member of the I.O.C.
-  a Chairman of a National Olympic Committee
-  a President of an International Sporting Federation
-  a long-term or otherwise deserving Chief Secretary or member
      of a National Olympic Committee or an International Sporting Federation
-  a member of the Games leadership who has distinguished himself in the organisation of the Games
-  a meritorious President of a Finnish Sporting Federation
-  a person who has performed specially valuable services to the Games or the Olympic ideal
      Chefs de Mission of participating countries
cross1952 1
cross1952 2
Cross of Merit II Class on

-  members of National Olympic Committees
-  a Chief Secretary of a National Olympic Committee or an International Sporting Federation
-  members of the Boards of International Sporting Federations
-  persons of intermediate rank in the Games leadership who have distinguished themselves in the
      organisation of the Games
-  a specially deserving manager of a Finnish Sporting Federation
-  deserving Chairmen of domestic inter-federation committees and chief competition directors
-  Olympic Attaches

medal1952
Medal of Merit on

-  coaches, trainers and persons who have zealously promoted the training of Finland's team
-  officials of the Organising Committee who have distinguished themselves in the organisation of the
      Games
-  a Manager of a Finnish Sporting Federation
-  officials employed in the Games
-  other persons who have helped forward the work of organisation

In determining the class of decoration established custom and international practice were to be observed
and account taken of a nominee's social status.

The number of decorations conferred was as below:
 

                                                          In Finland                     Abroad
Cross of Merit I Class                           116                             167                 =       283
Cross of Merit II Class                          508                             192                 =       700
Medal of Merit                                    1,732                             268                 =    2,000
 
 
 

(Source document:  Official Report 1952  Helsinki,  page 195)

Postage Stamps

4 special stamps were published.
First Day: Michel No 399 + 401 = 16. Nov 1951
Michel No 400 + 402 = 15. Feb 1952
Michel 399 Engraver
Designer
A. Lauren
A. Ronkanen
Michel 400 Engraver
Designer
B. Ekholm
T. Wirkkala
Michel 401 Engraver
Designer
B. Eckholm
G. Jysky
Michel 402 Engraver
Designer
B. Ekholm
T. Wirkkala
 
Value Colour / Discription Stanley
Gibbons No
Michel No          Edition
 12 + 2 M. red
Diving
 503 399        1.571.671
15 + 2 M. green
Football
 504 400        1.615.341
20 + 3 M. blue
Running
 505 401        1.369.365
25 + 4 M. brown
Olympic stadium
 506 402        1.380.778
1952 1b
 Olympic Stamps 1952

Olympic postage stamps, values 20 and 12 Fmks, were on sale from Nov. 16th 1951. The emblem on the 20-mks stamp, designed by G. A. Jysky, was the Olympic Stadium. On the 12-mks stamp, designed by Aimo Ronkanen, the emblem was a swimmer in the act of diving.

On Feb. 15th 1952 25 and 15 mks stamps were issued, designed by Tapio Wirkkala, the emblems being, respectively, footballers and a runner. Two million stamps were issued for sale of each denomination. In addition 150 000 booklets containing four of all four stamps were printed. The booklets were on sale from May 15th 1952.

A special Olympic printer was used on all competition days for date stamping mail deposited in boxes reserved for the purpose at the General Post Office and the temporary post offices. According to custom, arrangements were made for philatelists to obtain first date-markings.

(Text from Official Report 1952, page 114)

21 different spezial postmarks are known

Tickets

Tickets 1952

Following the usual practice the Organising Committee decided to offer half of the tickets for sale abroad. The uncertain world situation during the years preceding the Games and the inflatory trend evident in Finnish economic life meanwhile made the question of ticket sales extraordinarily difficult and held up important decisions.
At the beginning of 1952 the Ticket Committee expanded into a Ticket Department comprising:
       a Box Office for domestic sales, with sub-offices for allocations, ticket sales
          and mailing and
       a Box Office for sales abroad.

tick1952 1
tick1952 10


Single and Day Tickets

The bulk of the tickets were for a single occasion. Day tickets were printed solely for athletics, fencing, shooting, the modern pentathlon and equestrian events outside the Olympic Stadium. No series tickets were sold to the public. In the top left corner of the ticket was the symbol of the sport in question, below that the date, the stand and seat number and the price in dollars (on those sold in Finland the price-category only). On the right was a clock-face with the hands set at the time appointed for the event. A plan printed on the back of the ticket showed how the stands could be reached.

Tickets were printed in ten colours as follows:

1952 616

The idea behind this use of colour was that it would facilitate traffic guidance in the central Olympic area. In practice too much importance was seen to have been attached to traffic. It would have been more appropriate to distinguish differently priced tickets with colours.

Printing

The tickets were printed by the note-printing press of the Bank of Finland on banknote paper with a rose-coloured watermark, which made forgery difficult. Printing began in July 1951 and went on for four months. The note-printing press kept the tickets in its own safe custody, releasing batches for distribution as ordered. Tickets to the preliminary hockey, basketball and football rounds and the extra gymnastics competition on July 19th were printed at private commercial presses immediately before the Games. The Municipality of Hämeenlinna printed additional tickets for the modern pentathlon swimming event. These so-called »occasional tickets» were simpler in design. No tickets were printed for the yachting competitions, as it was decided that no »stands» could be arranged from which spectators could follow the races closely.
 

1952 olympic games ticket
tick1952 21
The total printings at the note-printing press of the Bank of Finland were 2 049 096 tickets. Printings by private firms totalled 345 003 tickets. The over-all total was thus 2 394 099 tickets.

(Source document:  Official Report 1952, page 164)


Sold Tickets

tick19522

Vignettes

There are 20 Vignettes known
Some Examples:
1952 1 1952 2
1952 3 vign1952 4

Picture Postcards

Some Examples
pc1952 10 pc1952 11
pc1952 12 pc1952 13
pc1952 5454 pc1952 5520 01
pc1952 14

Identity Card

IDENTITY CARDS

Identity Cards, or Olympic Passports as they were also called, were issued to all persons on official duties or of official status and to all competitors. In view of the favourable experience gained at the London Games the Organising Committee took measures to have the Olympic Identity Card recognised as valid as a travel passport. Negotiations with the Passport Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Aliens Department of the Ministry of the Interior led to positive results. By a Decree issued on Feb. 1st 1952 aliens were permitted to enter Finland and stay in the country between June 1st and Aug. 31st 1952 without visas and Olympic Passports were exempted from visa formalities as from March 1st, from which date their validity was six months. The Card served in lieu of a regular passport only in cases where the government of the country concerned consented to its use as an official travel document and transit visa. This was done by 32 countries. Olympic Identity Cards were of three kinds:

I.   Green Identity Card

Green Identity Cards were issued to the following:

1.  Members and staff of the I.O.C.
2.  Guests of the Organising Committee
3.  Presidents of National Olympic Committees and International Federations
4.  Chefs de Mission
5.  Members of families of persons in categories 1-4.

The green Identity Card entitled to entry to all venues. A pass card appended to the
Identity Card in Helsinki indicated the seat allotted to the holder in the guest stand.

II. Blue Identity Card

Blue cards were issued to:

1. Representatives of National Olympic Committees
2. Officials of International Federations
3. Team managers
4. Competitors
5. Members of juries and judges approved by International Federations
6. Officials approved by the Organising Committee
7. Coaches, physicians, technical assistants, masseurs, grooms, cooks, etc. attached to teams.

The blue card entitled to entry to Olympic Villages, stands reserved for competitors and
the dressing rooms for the holder's specific sport at the venues. It also entitled the holder to
free transport under the arrangements made in this respect by the Organising Committee.

III. Orange Identity Card

This, the so-called Press Card, was issued to:

1. Journalists
2. Radio and television reporters
3. Photographers
4. Film camera men.

identity 1952 1
The privileges attaching to the orange card are separately described under the heading Information Service. Directives in regard to Olympic Identity Cards were mailed to National Olympic Committees and International Federations in February 1952. According to these the National Olympic Committee in each country was the body authorised to fill in and with its signature to validate the Identity Cards of nationals of that country. International Federations were advised to report the names of the judges appointed by them to the Reception and Public Service Department, which would inform the proper National Olympic Committees when supplying cards for their use. This indirect notification became a source of complications, chiefly because of the late date at which the International Federations nominated their judges. In most cases National Olympic Committees had to make passport arrangements for judges after completing the arrangements for their teams. All this could of course have been avoided if it had been possible for the federations themselves to make out Identity Cards for their officials, but to this the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs would not consent. National Olympic Committees were to order Identity Cards before April 1st 1952, thus long before the time limit for final entries expired. The result was that orders tended to be lavish and exceeded real needs. The Organising Committee had to send out the following quantities of cards:

                       Green Identity Cards                              298
                       Blue Identity Cards                              9,234
                       Orange Identity Cards                         1,848
                       Total                                                 11,380

How many green and blue cards were in actual use it is impossible to say, for the National Olympic Committees generally neglected to return superfluous cards. On the other hand, new Identity Cards had to be made out for the entire membership of a few teams on their arrival in Helsinki, the original consignments having failed to reach their destination.
 

Other Identity Cards and Passes

The entry of Finnish officials to venues, training sites and housing centres was arranged by the issue of the following identity cards and passes:

1.   Black Identity Card (with photograph attached) issued to persons in the service of the Organising Committee whose duties were of a kind involving movement everywhere

2 Red Identity Card (with photo) issued to sports officials and entitling to entry to specific venues only

3 White Identity Card with entries in red but no photo, serving as a pass for the performance of the duty
indicated. Issued to persons carrying out specific tasks at venues

4 Armlet with printing (in Finnish) »Messenger», »Vendor» or »Restaurant» entitling persons engaged in these tasks to proceed to their place of work at a venue

5 Pass Certificate issued to persons carrying out transport to venues.

 (Source Document:  Official Report 1952,   page 155)

 

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