Otto Neurath developed pictorial statistics and the use of simplified pictures to communicate information visually in the early 20th century. In the 1970s, Otl Aicher applied this approach to the 1972 Munich Olympics by creating a visual language of pictograms to communicate across 34 languages spoken in Europe. Technical bulletins, brochures, charts and posters were produced for the 1972 Olympics using this visual language of pictograms to provide information to athletes, journalists, staff and spectators in a universally understandable way without language barriers.

1. OttoNeurath
& PictorialStatistics

2. OttoNeurath
& PictorialStatistics
Museum of Society
and Economy, Vienna

3. OttoNeurath
& PictorialStatistics
Museum of Society
and Economy, Vienna
“To remember simplified
pictures is better than
to forget accurate figures.”

12. Otl Aicher
&1972 Olympics

13. Otl Aicher
&1972 Olympics
“34 different languages are spoken
in Europe alone… in the interest
of international visitors not to limit
itself to verbal information, but
rather to take advantage of the
possibility of generally intelligible
pictorial symbols.”

14. Günther Behnisch

15. Earlier pictorial symbols

21. 1972 Olympics visual language

22. 1974 US Dept of Transportation pictograms
American Institute of Graphic Arts
& Cook and Shanosky Associates

23. The formats of pictures and paper sheets
were also described in the norms catalog,
along with "Waldi" and the official colors
characterizing the visual appearance as
determined by the OC.
Design systems

24. Technical bulletins were prepared for each
of the twenty-one sports disciplines in
which contests were held in Munich and
Kiel. In addition to the competition rules
and the exact time schedule, the agencies
of the IOC, the OC and the international
special associations were listed.

25. Numerous brochures and charts were
produced for the information of Olympic
contestants, journalists, judges and
contest aides, doctors and medical
personnel, security guards, short-term
personnel and the public.

26. Posters were designed and produced for
each sports discipline in which contests
were held at the Games of the XXth
Olympiad. An additional special poster
was printed only for the track and field
events.
Canoeing
Handball
Equestrian Events
Cycling
Hockey
Shooting
Athletics
Fencing
Judo
Archery
Rowing
Football
Wrestling
Volleyball
Basketball
Gymnastics
Swimming
Yachting
Boxing
Weight lifting
Modern Pentathlon
Athletics

27. Sports posters were part of the decoration
of the Olympic cities and sports sites.
They were mounted on specially designed
portable walls.

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