FRANCE 98 – Communique Template
A ticket designed like a bank note
On Monday 27 April 1998, the French Organising Committee unveiled the ticket for the 16th World Cup. This took place in the Stade de France at Saint Denis, where the first of the 64 matches in FRANCE 98 will kick off this coming 10 June.
The unveiling of the ticket for such a prestigious event is always a highly symbolic event. All the more so because World Cup tickets will remain a treasured souvenir for a great many football fans and collectors—something to be cherished long after the Final on 12 July 1998.
Designed just like a bank note by fiduciary specialists, the FRANCE 98 ticket has been fashioned according to a precise and stringent schedule of conditions. Nothing else would do, in fact, if the precious entry pass was to meet the four CFO objectives: security, attractiveness, legibility and quality. And the quality element entails much more than just creating a product on paper; for in integrating all the variable data (match, date, kick-off time, seat number, and so on) in each unit, the 2,500,000 plus tickets issued will all be made to measure.
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Yellow and blue are the colours that stand out on the ticket, whose graphic design also incorporates the principal elements associated with FRANCE 98. The World Cup ticket is the fruit of two years’ work and close collaboration between computer, paper and printing experts. |
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| FRANCE 1938 |
“With 44 days to go before the World Cup kicks off, the aim of unveiling the FRANCE 98 ticket is to enable everybody to recognise what it looks like, and in particular by its in-built security elements,” say Fernand Sastre and Michel Platini, Presidents of the French Organising Committee. “So a buyer will be the first to know whether the ticket is authentic or not, and not fall into the trap of buying counterfeits or tickets that have been tampered with”, added the Presidents.
Apart from a watermark, similar to the type found on bank notes, which represents Footix, the World Cup mascot, the FRANCE 98 ticket will also integrate a number of other easily-recognisable security elements, in particular a hologram representing the World Cup trophy, non-fluorescent fiduciary paper and an iridescent coating band with images of Footix that change colour depending on the angle of view.
The last stage in the manufacture, the customising of the ticket, constitutes an extra guarantee in the domain of security. This is carried out by means of sophisticated printing and computer technologies. The significance of this customisation, using various data including the stadium, match number, date, stand, row, seat number and customer reference number, is that there cannot be two tickets the same among all the 2,500,000 issued for FRANCE 98. Apart from the data directly related to the match, the tickets will also carry the name of the buyer, which will be either an individual, a company, a National Federation or an Authorised Tour Operator.
The legibility of the ticket has been carefully studied to facilitate checking by the stewards, and to make it as easy as possible for spectators to find their seats. A square of colour, corresponding to the same identification code displayed outside the stadium, indicates the position of the stand in a way that anybody can understand. On the back, the ticket carries pictograms describing the items prohibited in the stadiums, the conditions of use for the ticket and the main legislative and statutory security provisions in force within the World Cup stadiums.
As from the middle of May, the tickets for the World Cup obtained directly from the CFO will be sent out to their buyers by post in security-tight, non-identifiable packets. The operation will be undertaken by La Poste, the Official Mail Carrier for FRANCE 98.
Tickets sold by National Federations and Authorised Tour Operators will be made over directly to their beneficiaries by the organisation concerned and under their responsibility.
| Four main objectives
Designing and issuing a World Cup ticket is no run-of-the-mill task in terms of printing. It involved the skills of experts from three very different fields: computing, paper and printing. |
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ITALIA 1934 |
From the very beginning, a large number of requirements were integrated into the project, and strictly observed at each stage of production. The CFO’s stringent schedule of conditions stipulated four main objectives: attractiveness, legibility, quality and, of course, security.
Attractiveness
A World Cup ticket testifies to the event. It becomes a souvenir and even a collectors’ item. The French Organising Committee wanted its design to be consistent with the FRANCE 98 graphic chart, both in its colours and motifs.
The dominant colours of yellow and blue, along with footballs illustrated on the background of a starry sky, render the ticket entirely in keeping with this 16th World Cup’s universal values.
Its original design had to accommodate the restrictions arising from security considerations, whilst also ensuring that the ticket was legible and informative. It was fashioned by fiduciary experts familiar with creating bank and high security products.
Legibility
The ticket’s legibility was studied in great depth to facilitate the stewards’ task of checking tickets at the stadium entrance, and enable spectators to find their way to their seats easily. At a quick glance, all the pertinent information had to be visible.
For these reasons, the colours used are neither too bright nor too dark, while the illustrations in the background are not too crowded, which would have made the ticket difficult to read. The elements of identification and information, different on each ticket (match number, stand, row and seat number,…) are all printed in large characters. A square of colour, corresponding to the same identification code on display outside the stadium, indicates the position of the relevant stand in a way that anybody can understand.
Quality
The quality element entails much more than just creating a product on paper; it also means integrating all the variable data (match, date, kick-off time, seat number, and so on) in each unit. You could say, in fact, that each of the 2,500,000-plus tickets issued will be made to measure.
The CFO’s aim of “getting it 100% right” leaves no margin for error at any stage of production: design, manufacture, customisation or delivery.
Security
In order to prevent counterfeiting and tampering, several security features have been built into the tickets. This also means that a buyer will be the first to know whether the ticket is authentic or not.
These security features, found both on the front and back of the ticket, include elements incorporated into the paper itself. This was possible thanks to the expertise of Arjo Wiggins, one of the FRANCE 98 Equipment Suppliers, in the field of fiduciary paper.
| Designed like a bank note
With the latest developments in production means, counterfeiting and tampering are more of a threat than ever before, and need to be planned for. The World Cup ticket has therefore been designed and perfected to combat these two very distinct dangers. |
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| ITALIA 1990 |
To beat counterfeiters—people who attempt to duplicate a ticket—special paper has been used which incorporates various security features. On top of this, certain “thwarting” tactics have been employed at the various stages of manufacture.
To combat those whose aim is to tamper with the ticket by changing some of the data on it, other technical preventive measures have been deployed, notably in the choice of ink and the printing methods.
Designed just like a bank note by companies specialising in the fiduciary field, the FRANCE 98 ticket includes the following security features:
The watermark
Like a bank note, the FRANCE 98 ticket paper carries a watermark—or a personal seal—in other words a picture embedded within the paper itself. This picture can be seen on the front and on the back of the ticket. Because it is very difficult to copy and easily verified by both the possessor and anyone checking the item, the watermark is today the most frequently-used security measure, particularly on bank notes.
The FRANCE 98 watermark, created specially for the event, depicts Footix, the Official World Cup mascot. Footix can be clearly seen in different shades of grey created by the various thickness of the paste layers throughout the body of the paper. No printing or photocopying technique can duplicate this.
The iridescent coating band
This involves depositing a strip of iridescent substance on the paper which is then absorbed into the paper itself. This creates an optical variation security feature. The image—in this case Footix—is glossy and changes colour depending on the angle of view. The advantage of this iridescent band is that it can be quickly verified and the document cannot be photocopied.
The hologram
A hologram is a three-dimensional image. The one used for the FRANCE 98 ticket is, in fact, a Gyrogram. Depending on how it is slanted, different parts of the original design become visible, including a stylised map of France and a picture of the World Cup trophy. The hologram was built into the ticket by using a highly sophisticated industrial tool deploying specially perfected adhesives.
Non-fluorescent
Unlike for the vast majority of paper, the paste used for making the FRANCE 98 ticket contains no optical bleach. The absence of optical bleach, and consequently of fluorescence under ultraviolet light, can be verified under a Wood’s lamp, as is frequently done in business when checking bank notes.
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The ticket, a shrewd blend of high technology and top-of-the-range security devices, called on three areas of specialisation in its design process: paper, printing and computing. And two years of close collaboration among specialists were needed before the final product was perfected. |
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| MEXICO 1970 |
At each step along the way, security and quality were the key watchwords among all its designers.
For the paper, the CFO had to look no further than Arjo Wiggins, an Official Equipment Supplier to FRANCE 98 and one of the world leaders when it comes to fiduciary paper. It was of paramount importance to build into the paper a number of features which would render counterfeiting and tampering impossible, including non-fluorescent paper and an iridescent coating band. In all, 16 tonnes of paper were used to produce the 2.5 million tickets.
To print the tickets, the CFO chose France’s number one—and the world’s number three—fiduciary printer. The tickets were fashioned in the form of blocks (like bank note blocks), each being made up of 8 tickets.
EDS, Hewlett Packard and Sybase, Official Suppliers to FRANCE 98, each brought their expertise to bear in creating the World Cup ticket. A case in point is the software specially developed for the customisation of each ticket, the last stage in the production process.
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The World Cup ticket measures 203.2 mm x 88.9 mm. It is divided into two parts: the stub, torn off when the ticket is checked at the stadium gates, and the main body of the ticket containing the information needed by the spectator. |
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| MEXICO 1986 |
On the front of the ticket can be found the following information: the match number, city and name of the stadium, date and time of the game, names of the teams or the competition stage, stand, access stairway, row and seat number. The customer reference number and the buyer’s name (individual, company, National Federation or Authorised Tour Operator) are also indicated, together with the price of the ticket. A square of colour, corresponding to the identification displayed on the signage panel outside the stadium, indicates which stand to go to, in a way that anybody can understand.
On the back, the ticket carries pictograms describing the objects prohibited in the stadiums, the ticket’s conditions of use as applicable to the spectator, and the main legislative and reglementary security provisions in force within the World Cup stadiums.
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The last stage in the manufacture, the customising of the ticket, constitutes an extra guarantee in the domain of security, and is carried out by means of sophisticated printing and computer technologies. The significance of this customisation, using a number of different data including the stadium, match number, date, stand, row, seat number and customer reference number, is that there cannot be two tickets the same among all the 2,500,000 issued for FRANCE 98. Each FRANCE 98 ticket is unique! |
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USA 94 |
As each spectator is allocated a numbered seat, this guarantees that there cannot be two tickets for the same seat. If such a circumstance should arise, however, it will be easy to verify which of the two tickets has been counterfeited or tampered with.
The customisation of the tickets is not undertaken match by match, but in the order in which customers place their orders. This means that tickets belonging to a FRANCE 98 PASS buyer, for several matches in the same city, will be printed one after the other independently of the matches. This principle will avoid any mistakes being made in seating arrangements. The software designed for the customisation process ensures that seats belonging to the same order will be placed side by side in the stands.
Apart from the data directly related to the match, the ticket will bear the name of the buyer, which will be either an individual, a company, a National Federation or an Authorised Tour Operator. This means that the buyer is responsible for the behaviour of any person to whom that buyer offers tickets:
1. If the ticket has been bought from the CFO, it will carry the name of the buyer (individual buyer or company).
2. If the ticket has been bought from one of the 17 Authorised Tour Operators (ATOs), it will carry the name of that Tour Operator. Each Tour Operator will have a list, which can be consulted by the authorities, containing the names of the people to whom tickets have been sold, together with the seats they have been allocated in the stadiums.
3. If the ticket has been bought from one of the National Football Federations, it will carry the name of that Federation. Each Federation will likewise have a list, which can be consulted by the authorities, containing the names of the people to whom tickets have been sold, together with the seats they have been allocated in the stadiums.
As from the middle of May, the tickets for the World Cup obtained directly from the CFO will be sent out to their buyers by post in security-tight, non-identifiable packets.
The operation will be undertaken by La Poste, the Official Mail Carrier for FRANCE 98.
Tickets sold by National Federations and Authorised Tour Operators will be made over directly to their beneficiaries by the organisation concerned and under their responsibility.
The 5 basic rules for spectators
1. To obtain tickets, only the official sales networks should be approached: the French Organising Committee, the National Football Federations and Authorised Tour Operators (of which a list can be found on the Official Website, www.france98.com).
2. No spectator should come to the stadium on a match day without being in possession of a ticket: there will be no tickets on sale at the venues at the stadium sales kiosks. All persons, including young children, must be in possession of a ticket in order to enter the stadium. Please note: in the event of loss or theft, tickets will not be replaced.
3. No person should come to the stadium carrying objects which could serve as projectiles or constitute weapons; nor should they carry any fireworks or alcoholic beverages.
4. Spectators should travel to the stadium by public transport and come well in advance. Entertainments will be laid on around and within the ground. The doors will open 2 hours 30 minutes before each game (3 hours before at the Stade de France).
5. Spectators shall go to their seats in compliance with the information indicated on their tickets.