Olympic Video

1st Logo (1986)

Nicknames: "Olympic Video in Space", "The Red Text and Yellow Arrow", "Hellas Kosmos Video's Calmer Brother", "1986 Space Olympic Games"

Logo: Amongst a space background, we see the text "OLYMPIC" in red zoom towards us. A couple of seconds later, we see "Video", also in red, zoom in underneath "OLYMPIC". Then, "OLYMPIC" stops zooming at a comfortable spot before a yellow line draws itself on the left side. Then, the line turns just before "Video" stops zooming in. After "Video" stops zooming, the line turns upward on the right side of the text, then turns to the "O" at "Video" before we realise that the line is an arrow as a triangle appears on the end of the line. Then, "Σ. ΜΑΡΚΙΔΗΣ & ΣΙΑ" (S. MARKIDIS & CO translated in English) "types" itself on as it flashes each time a letter appears. Then, the logo fades into the warning screen.

FX/SFX: The zooming, arrow drawing and text appearing. Pretty nice animation for a Greek VHS logo.

Music/Sounds: An explosion sound, which is followed by a sample of “Orient Express” by Jean Michel Jarre.

Availability: Very rare. Seen on Greek VHS tapes of the time. Go to Greece, or on an ordering website, and find a VHS with the Olympic Video print on it.

Editor’s Note: The explosion and zooming might get to some unsuspecting viewers, but the catchy synthesiser music after the explosion can change a persons mood.