A rare official poster for the cancelled 1940 Helsinki Olympic Games, the primary design by Ilmari Sysimetsa, signed in the plate, colour lithograph,

A rare official poster for the cancelled 1940 Helsinki Olympic Games, the primary design by Ilmari Sysimetsa, signed in the plate, colour lithograph, English language edition, published by A.B. F. Tilgmann O.Y., visible image 97 by 62cm., 38 by 24 1/2in., mounted, framed & glazed This winning entry from 72 submissions by Finnish artists depicts the country's legendary Olympic runner Paavo Nurmi as is in fact after a work by the sculptor Waimo Aaltonen. The 1940 Olympic Games were originally awarded to Tokyo, for which posters had been designed. In 1938 The IOC stripped Japan of its host status due the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Games were then awarded to Helsinki, runners-up in the original bidding process. However, the Olympic Games were then suspended indefinitely following the outbreak of World War II. Sysimetsa's design was revived when Helsinki were awarded the Games in 1952. The text was re-written and the Finnish borders with the Soviet Union had to be re-drawn on the map.