The theme of the 1936 Olympics, which was held in Berlin with considerable political overtones, was assigned to the Gruppo Sperimentazione Teatrale. The scenario that reached Mario Ricci in Rome early in 1972 called for the use of recordings, television, huge puppets, and a chorus to depict that Olympics. When sent to Ricci, the scenario had the official approval of the Olympic Arts Committee. The Italian director (with the aid of two artist friends, Carlo Montesi and Claudio Previtera) set about enthusiastically to create what he hoped would be a controversial piece. The 1972 Olympics, after all, were the first to be held in Germany since ‘36, and a great deal of European attention would naturally focus on the work and its conception.

In the portraying of athletic events, the scenario called for the repetition of such phrases as: “A (Hitler Youth) youngster must be tough as leather, hard as Krupp steel.”