2024 Programme for both Olympics & Paralympics.
PROGRAMMES, PROGRAMMES!
by Philip Barker
The official programme for Paris 2024 has now gone on sale.
It has been printed on recycled paper in the Pays de Loire and runs to 228 pages at a cost of €10 euros.
Although it will also be possible to read the programme online, availability of a printed version is bound to come as a great relief to collectors especially as tickets for the Games must be accessed online via an app.
In recent years, many sporting clubs and events have taken the decision to only issue online programmes.
The famous Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race was amongst those to offer only a digital programme this year.
The Paris 2024 programme can be opened from either end and includes full information on both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is to be available in both French, the official language of the Olympic Movement and English.
Organisers have promised “complete immersion in every event” and “exclusive interviews and inspiring stories”
The provision of material for spectators has varied greatly from Games to Games.
A substantial programme was issued for the last Games on French soil in Albertville 32 years ago.
It included greetings from the French President Francois Mitterand and IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and ran to 135 pages, and costing 50 Francs.
This was supported by single sheet start lists for each event, available to spectators at the venue.
Amongst the best known of early programmes was for London 1908.
It cost sixpence and the cover design was for many years mistakenly believed to be the official poster.
In 1936 the innovative Carl Diem was leading the office of the Berlin Olympic Organisers.
He made sure they generated a great number of publications including small pocket guides to each sport and programmes.
In 1948 London Organisers provided individual daily programmes for each sport and venue at a cost of One Shilling each.
It was a trend followed at subsequent Olympics into the late 1980s.
For the 1996 Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, Sports Illustrated magazine was responsible for an “Olympic Daily” for the Atlanta Games in 1996. This did not include start lists but features on prominent athletes.
At Sydney 2000, in addition to an official programme and publications on the Torch Relay publications, an illustrated magazine on each sport was published.
Smaller daily programmes containing start lists for all events at the Games on the respective day were on sale at each venue.
The large range of publications for Athens 2004 included a lavish and general programme in Greek and English versions. Again, these were supported by a daily edition which included details of every sport.
At Beijing 2008, there were no programmes except for the Opening and Closing Ceremony.
A small explanatory leaflet on each sport was available and China Daily published a newspaper each day.
Journalists were however provided with bound start lists at athletics.
London 2012 was the last to produce a daily magazine which included profiles and interviews.
For Rio 2016, a brochure style programme appeared along with official programmes for both the Opening and Closing Ceremony.
In addition, Globo published a daily newspaper which contained results and other information.
This was distributed free at venues.
The most recent Summer Games in Tokyo had no spectators but an official programme was produced just the same and was available in Japanese and English.
It is now highly sought after.
The Paris 2024 programme can also be purchased at https://programme-officiel.paris2024.org/
It will remain on sale until September 8th.
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