‘Gobsmacked’: Olympic emblem revealed
A largely positive response to the leaked 2032 Brisbane Games emblem has thrilled organisers as they sweat on the Olympic sport program being finalised.
Source: AAP
Brisbane Olympics organisers are “gobsmacked” at the huge response to the Games emblem, which was accidentally leaked before its official release.
The stylised cockatoo’s crest was unveiled at a packed Brisbane function on Monday night, three days after it was leaked.
The design is the crest of a pink cockatoo — an inland Australian bird that “embodies the cheeky nature of the Queensland spirit”.
The fiery colour has been stylised to resemble an Olympic flame.
The crest is shaped to resemble Queensland, with the eye representing Brisbane.
“We are gobsmacked and delighted by the reaction. Our emblems are truly loved,” Olympic 2032 boss Andrew Liveris said of the winning design.
The leak came on Friday night when the striking emblem featured on the Games’ official YouTube channel — 72 hours ahead of schedule.
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“The cockatoos are out there. They came a little early. They flew the nest,” Liveris said.
The response to the cockatoo emblem has been overwhelmingly positive. Photo: Supplied
Brisbane Olympic officials quickly gave it a positive spin, insisting at the weekend they were excited the emblems were finally released.
Their mood only improved when social media “lit up” with an overwhelmingly positive response to the design.
It had received 38 million views along with more than 5000 direct mentions across social media platforms since the weekend, Liveris said.
“Once it happened we clicked into gear … our team pivoted and went to the positive immediately … making lemonade out of lemons,” he said.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner revealed that one of the early emblem entries included a stylised Brisbane River, which he shut down, saying it looked like a Mr Squiggle drawing.
Next to be revealed is the Brisbane mascot. It will come after the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
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The mascot is sparking lively debate, with state Olympic Minister Tim Mander already ruling out a polarising Brisbane sight — the ibis.
“I can guarantee you, I’m sorry, it won’t be the bin chicken,” he said on Monday night, prompting some boos.
Schrinner interjected, asking: “Why limit ourselves to just one [mascot]?”
Asked if that was a reveal, Schrinner said coyly: “I dunno.”
Fellow panellist, federal Sport Minister Anika Wells, said her school visits around the nation had overwhelmingly nominated another contender — Brisbane-based TV cartoon character Bluey.
“I’m not ruling out anything, although Minister Mander did rule out the bin chook. I am in his camp, by the way,” Liveris later said.
The 2032 Olympic boss’ most pressing concern is getting the Brisbane Games sport program finalised.
The International Olympic Committee has postponed announcing what sports will be contested for 12 months following years of uncertainty over the Brisbane Games infrastructure plan.
Liveris was hopeful he would know by year’s end.
“I think we are all very anxious to get that finalised and for good reason — it is six years out and there’s some venues that have to be built,” he said.
“This is the next big reveal for us and we have to get it right.”
The 2032 emblem was celebrated with large-scale versions lit up as part of a community celebration at Brisbane’s South Bank on Monday night featuring Olympians and Paralympians.
-with AAP
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