Jack Morton takes on Olympic job

Jack Morton Worldwide (Europe) is holding ‘immersion workshops’ in Athens this week after winning the contract to produce the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2004 Olympic Games in the city.

The appointment, following a four-way final pitch against Imagination, Mice and French group ECA2, was confirmed before Christmas, says Jack Morton Worldwide (UK) chairman Lois Jacobs, who is leading the project team with director of public events David Zolkwer.

‘There were nine serious bidders to begin with, after a very public, seven-month European Union tendering process. Initially, we were evaluated on financial suitability, the team we’d put on the job and our experience of similar activity.

‘Then, at the final stage, we were measured against criteria such as critical time plan and how we’d respond to certain technical challenges posed by [Olympic Games artistic director] Dimitris Papaioannu’s creative concepts,’ Jacobs says.

Papaioannu will be the driving creative force, she adds. ‘Although it’s a creative collaboration, we’re producers in the truest sense of the word. The emphasis is on delivery,’ Jacobs explains.

The consultancy has already set up an office in Athens and will be increasing the number of staff over the next few months.

Details of the design brief are closely guarded and Jacobs would not elaborate on any aspect of the creative theme. But it may be safe to assume that much will be made of the Olympic Games’ return to the country of its origin.