Jonathan Mount - Obscure Olympics - Interim Presentation

British Obscure Olympics Forepoint

GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

The brief: Celebrate the weird and wonderful sporting eccentricity of the UK’s “local” sports.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Initial research Nothing much that hasn’t already been seen more than a few times before.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Initial thoughts Basic sketching out of initial ideas, what the Olympics represent as well as events, where they come from and looking at bring those events toward a centre.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Forest of Bowland In looking at potentially where these games could be held, the obvious place (in my thinking) was the Forest of Bowland, a Royal Hunting Ground between here, Lancaster and the western edge of the Pennines.

Dubbed “the Switzerland of England�, it is located at the very centre of Great Britain with the village of Dunsop Bridge being closest to the actual centre.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

But why Lancashire?

Because it’s the best county in the UK...

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

The “grit� route courage, courageousness, bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, spirit, strength of character, strength of will, moral fibre, steel, nerve, gameness, valour, fortitude, toughness, hardiness, resolve, determination.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Grit and #truebrit At the heart of any competition is the competitor and the reason they compete.

For the most part, all modern sport has an ancestor, a true version of what exists today. As many modern sports sprang up in Britain, the truest for of competition could well be a gurn or a hurl.

Principally copy and narrative driven.

FOR EACH STRAINED VEIN AND BLOODSHOT EYE FOR EVERY BENT EAR AND NOSE DISJOINTED FOR THE MASK OF CONTORTED STRAIN FOR THE PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT GROTESQUE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GURN

Tommy Mattinson 15 time Gurning World Champion

The British Obscure Olympics

#truebrit 9

GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

The “heart� route centre, central part, middle, hub, core, nucleus, kernel, eye, bosom, navel enthusiasm, keenness, eagerness, spirit, determination, resolution, resolve, purpose, courage, backbone, spine, nerve, will power, fortitude, bravery.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Initial thoughts More sketching looking for a way in to the “heart” idea. Inspiring backstory.

Set up following the events of The War of the Roses 1455 – 1487 in the historic Forest of Bowland.

Established by royal assent in 1504 by King Henry VII, Lord King of Bowland and Duke of Lancaster.

There were 6 original events: Gurning Egg throwing Shin Kicking Black Pudding hurling Lancashire Wrestling Bowland Village Football (Slaidburn vs Newton-on-Hodder) The games disappeared after the English Civil War following the restoration of Charles II back on to the throne of England.

Restarted in 1862 by the then Lord of Bowland, Lt. Colonel Charles Townley, and established in Dunsop Bridge where he had built St Huberts the previous year. His horse, Kettledrum had won the 1861 Derby and from those winnings built the church and established the revised games.

A military man, Townley had traveled far and wide and brought back additional events for the games.

Woolsack racing from Gloucester Cheese Rolling from Tetbury Highland event one Highland event two Cementing the games as a biennial event, they would run every other spring from 1862 until 1878 until the last Lord of Bowland, John Townley, died without an heir and the Lordship of Bowland was dissolved along with the games.

The modern revival began in 2010, again as a biennial Spring event, establish by the incumbent 16th Lord of Bowland, William.

The modern games retain all of the traditional events but have expanded to incorporate new feats of endurance and skill.

Snail Racing from Congham Worm Charming from Blackawton Nettle Eating from Marshwood Bog Snorkling from Llanwrtyd Wells Exhibition events for the 2020 Games are Dry Stone Walling from Kirkby Lonsdale Pooh Sticks from Ashdown Forest.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

“The Bowland Games�

A modern revival of a late medieval event.

Using traditional heraldic imagery.

Mainly the sports and events established before 1850.

Newer expansion events added.

Competitors from around the country would journey to compete.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Historic Context Whilst potentially considered old fashioned and “stuffy�, the historic often informs the modern.

Edmund Crouchback (Earl of Lancaster 1276) with St. George Early 14th century manuscript miniature

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Historic Context Whilst potentially considered old fashioned and “stuffy�, the historic often informs the modern.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Historic Context Whilst potentially considered old fashioned and “stuffy�, the historic often informs the modern.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Historic Context Whilst potentially considered old fashioned and “stuffy�, the historic often informs the modern.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Heraldic Inspiration Fantasy and fiction.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Heraldic devices Colours, charges and patterns.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Modern Heraldic Reinterpreting the medieval.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

The “pageantry� route spectacle, display, ceremony, magnificence, pomp, glory, splendour, grandeur, glamour, flourish, glitter, theatricality, drama, show, showiness.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Palio di Siena Bright colours, pageantry, strong local pride and honour.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Fixtures and Fittings Flags, banners, pennants, pavilions and bunting.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Passionate fans Bright colours, pageantry, strong local pride and honour.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

DixonBaxi - TDF ‘18 For Eurosport’s coverage of this years Tour de France.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Roundel - Railfreight ‘87 Roundel’s iconic work for Railfreight in 1987 using geometric shapes, colour and iconography.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Typography Balancing between the traditional and the modern.

GILL SANS ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstyuvwxyz 0123456789!@£$%^&*()-=_+[]{};’\:”|,./<>?

JENSON PRO ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstyuvwxyz 0123456789!@£$%^&*()-=_+[]{};’\:”|,./<>?

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Logo Alternatives 5 ring alternate arrangements 9 ring option for the competing counties 12 ring option for sports/places

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Pictogram Ideas Each pictogram is unique to each event.

Shield can be simple or more ornate.

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GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Competing Teams Egremont Grimacers Newent Whiffers Ramsbottom Hurlers Swaton Flingers St. Mawgan Grapplers Tetbury Heavers Chipping Cambden Bruisers Brockworth Spinners Oundle Whackers Llanwrtyd Wells Paddlers Blackawton Grunters Marshwood Chompers 30

GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Grimacers

Whiffers

Hurlers

Spinners

Paddlers

Flingers

Grunters

Chompers

Whackers

Heavers

Grimacers

Bruisers 31

GR3100 - Industry Brief - Forepoint / Obscure Olympics

Lancashire

Cumbria

Northamptonshire

Cornwall

Powys

Devon

Dorset

Gloucestershire

Lincolnshire

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