Iranian Olympics boycott threat due to “racist” logo
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The controversial London 2012 Olympics logo has drawn more fire, this time from Iran’s national Olympic committee, which claims it is “racist” and spells out the word “Zion”.
The committee is threatening to boycott the London Olympics unless the logo is withdrawn and claims that it is a symbol for Israel, a perceived enemy of the country.
The Iranians have written to the International Olympic Committee and it is reported that the letter states “Unfortunately, we all are witnessing that the upcoming Olympics … faces a serious challenge, definitely spawned out of some people’s racist spirit.
“The use of the word Zion by the designer of Olympics logo …. in the emblem of the Olympic Games 2012 is a very revolting act.”
The IOC has stated:”The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012, nothing else.”
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games says that it plans no chnage to the logo and adds:”The London 2012 logo represents the year 2012, nothing else. It was launched in 2007 following testing and consultation, we are surprised that this complaint has been made now.”
The logo, designed by Wolff Olins, was unveiled in 2007 and was heavily criticised by branding and design experts.
Readers' comments (10)
Rich | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 10:41 am
Fine, let them boycott it. I don't think Iran's racial paranoia has any place in the spirit of the olympics. If the logo was a Rorschach test, then this probably reveals Iran's own racism.
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Hassan Shah | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:25 pm
NOT PARANOID - MAYBE YOU SHOULD WAKE-UP - its not the first time this designer has caused discomfort........."Throughout its history, Wolff Olins has presented controversial work.[2][3] Its piper design for BT in 1991 attracted a great deal of opposition.The company was also responsible for the short-lived $110m (£75m) re-branding of PwC Consulting to Monday in 2002. The launch of the London 2012 brand in 2007 was met with widespread public disapproval in the UK, being called a colossal waste of £400,000, a pornographic representation of the character Lisa Simpson[4] or two people making love, a swastika, or spelling the word "Zion".[5]
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Anonymous | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:38 pm
It is surprising that Iran has waited 4 years to complain.
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Anonymous | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:47 pm
and every now and then, a blind squirrel finds a nut
it is an ugly logo though so they should change it anyway
we should focus more on boycotting Dior........John what were you thinking.
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Anonymous | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 1:22 pm
Surely Hassan's list of things the logo could look like rather proves the point that it is not meant to say Zion, it's just an ugly logo that is hard to read.
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Anonymous | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 1:35 pm
I don't particularly like the logo either, it's ugly. I think it's a shame, it should have gone to a public vote, so many other things seem to and it is 'our' olympic games after all!
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Kelvin | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 1:40 pm
I can't even find the word in there, and I'm looking for it. The Olympics is meant to bring nations together... to the (probably few) Iranian people that this offends, please chill-out and embrace the Olympics as an opportunity to demonstrate to the world what a progressive and open-minded nation you are.
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Anonymous | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 1:47 pm
Hassan Shah . .
Maybe you should wake up to the fact that the world is full people who are different.
You need to take your blinkers off and see bigger picture.
That said it would be a shame if narrow mindedness prevented Iranian sports people from competing in the greatest sporting fixture.
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Alan | Wed, 2 Mar 2011 10:38 am
"Unfortunately, we all are witnessing that the upcoming Olympics … faces a serious challenge, definitely spawned out of some people’s racist spirit."
Oh, the irony.
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tony moore | Sun, 6 Mar 2011 2:32 am
Time for someone to simply state to Iran, or anyone else making this sort of accusation, that the tactic of trying to exert 'Victim Power' won't be rewarded.
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