Tokyo Olympic Countdown – The Postponed Games #1 (Cartoonist: Chicane, New Zealand)
By Philip Barker
Former IOC marketing supremo Michael Payne has compiled an unusual history of the Olympic Games in cartoon form.
He describes his book “Toon In” as a “light hearted primer” on the Olympic Movement.
It runs to over 500 pages, includes some 1200 drawings and was over a year in the making. The work of some 360 cartoonists from 47 nations is included in the volume which has been produced in a ‘coffee table’ format.
“Cartoons are a very important part of the social commentary of the day and I really wanted to make the book as global as possible,” said Payne.
He has written an accompanying text of 100,000 words and paid tribute to the “creative brilliance of cartoonists” in a volume which he describes as “edgy.”
“I was privileged to be a first-hand witness behind the scenes. Lots of the stories come from first-hand experience. Others come from a tremendous amount of research.”
There is a chapter which deals with doping. Payne admits the 2014 scandal was “heaven made for Anglo-Saxon cartoonists.”
He took the opportunity to present a copy to IOC President Thomas Bach in Lausanne and insists that “the IOC have shown their sense of humour.”
Profits from sales will go to a range of good causes.
“I decided that it needed a cause so we picked four,” said Payne.
The beneficiaries include the Back Up Trust which assists those with spinal injuries to return to the mountains through skiing and mountaineering. Further details can be found at https://www.backuptrust.org.uk/
It will also help Cartooning For Peace (www.cartooningforpeace.org), the Peace and Sport (www.peace-sport.org) initiative set up by Prince Albert of Monaco and the Yunus Sports Hub (www.yunussportshub.com) established by Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus.
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