OLYMPIC GAMES FINANCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 7

OLYMPIC GAMES FINANCES

DIRECT LOSS LIKELY

TAKINGS BELOW OUTLAY

4,500,000 TICKETS SOLD

BERLIN, Aug. 20

Tlie first official profit and Joss account of the Olympic Game?, issued to-night, shows that receipts .from the sales of tickets slightly exceeded running expenses, leaving the huge capital outlay and other State expenditure with no offset except tho indirect receipts from tourist traffic. A total of 4,500,00.0 entrance tickets and 100,000 season tickets to the games were sold, realising £37.>,000. while running expenses arc given as £325,000.

This includes wages to 300 office employees and 5000 other workpeople, but it does not include rent, since all the Stadium’s ground and similar accommodation was provided by the State. The games attracted 1.200,000 visitors to Berlin, of whom 150,000 were foreigners. About 1000 special trains were run by tlie State Railways during Ihe fortnight. Hotels and cafes probably had the best: two weeks in the history of Berlin. The burning question is: How much foreign currency lias Germany netted from the 150,000 visitors from abroad? Until this is known it is impossible to estimate what price Germany has paid for any political value she may get from the great propagandist effort site made during the games. HUGE SUMS SPENT No figures have been published of the cost of the various stadiums, the Olympic village and other capital expenditure which must run into* many millions of pounds. Huge sums were also spent in the sumptuous receptions given practically every evening by various Ministers in honour of the guests. ■Sales by Berlin shops to foreign visitors during Hie Olympic Games have proved disappointing, judging from Information supplied In the German press liv the official trade group for the retail trade.

Shops report that foreigners seemed to buy mostly cheap or moderately priced articles. in ninny eases Herman customers spent much more liberally than the foreigners. The reason given is that foreigners were allowed only limited amounts of cheap registered marks, that only small articles would lie purchased by travellers, anil Him fears of customs difficulties acted as a deterrent. Actually the allowance of registered marks during the games amounted io £‘> daily instead of the usual £2 Ids. Photographic and optical shops are said to have had a “very good” turnover, although the cameras purchased were only moderately priced. The best business was in the sale of photographic materials and in the developing and printing works. Leather, glass and porcelain trades did a fair business in souvenirs, but only shops in the main streets showed any increase in turnover.

Imitation jewellery sales are described as “disappointing,’’ most articles sold costing less than 10s. Sales of the hosiery, shoe and sports outfitting were good on the whole. Confectionery and grocery shops were disappointed-’by their trade.