Brisbane 2032 unveils cockatoo emblem for Olympics and Paralympics after accidental leak
The emblems are separate from the official Games mascot, which will be announced closer to the event.
A pink cockatoo has been chosen as the official emblem of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, beating out other Australian icons such as the kangaroo, koala and bin chicken following an accidental social media leak.
The emblem was officially launched yesterday, several days after organisers held an emergency news conference to address the premature release of the design.
The Olympic emblem features a crest depicting a pink cockatoo, an Australian bird, with colors styled to evoke the Olympic and Paralympic flame and a shape representing Queensland, the host state.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the emblems celebrate the city and its lifestyle.
"They reflect the Brisbane people know and love: vibrant, resilient, connected, friendly, playful and a little bit cheeky," Schrinner said, adding that they also symbolize the growing excitement ahead of the Games.
Organisers said the designs incorporate First Nations elements, noting that cockatoos are regarded as messengers carrying cultural significance and connecting people with places, stories and ceremonies.
The emblems are separate from the official Games mascot, which will be announced closer to the event.
The designs were accidentally revealed Friday night when an explanatory video intended to be released after a planned ceremonial event briefly appeared on the Brisbane 2032 YouTube channel. Screenshots quickly spread across social media.
Brisbane 2032 Vice President Tim Mander and Chief Marketing Officer Brent Hill said at a weekend news conference that the leak turned into an unexpected publicity opportunity. Hill said the resulting attention had been "incredible."
Brisbane 2032 Chairman Andrew Liveris said the emblems would help highlight the region's unique character and encourage people worldwide to visit, invest and participate in the Games.
Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy, who attended Monday's launch, praised the design, saying it represented Brisbane well and had "soul."
Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, chair of the IOC coordination commission for the 2032 Games, described the emblems as a "vibrant expression" of the region.
Brisbane will host the Games alongside venues in cities including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Australia has previously hosted the Summer Olympics in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
