The Hungarian football team who were Olympic champions in 1952 in Helsinki were known as the “Golden Team” who revolutionised the sport, introducing the notion of players playing in multiple positions and pioneering a new formation, which gave rise to what we call “total football”. Their dazzling rise to stardom on the pitches of Europe ended with an unexpected defeat in Bern in the FIFA World Cup final in 1954 against West Germany.

“The official report of the Organising Committee for the Games of the XV Olympiad”, was published in 1955 and in two separate editions, one in English, and one in Finnish. There were two different types of binding.

Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games Torch ©IOC

On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam , created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli (ITA - 1865-1942) and chosen after a competition organised by the International Olympic Committee. For these Games, the figure of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: " XV OLYMPIA HELSINKI 1952 ". On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background.

Paavo Nurmi as the last torchbearer carrying the Olympic flame ©IOC

Paavo Nurmi lights the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the Helsinki Olympic Games ©IOC