London Olympics 2012 – or 2017?
The logotype for the London Olympic Games has been launched – and it caused an instant and well-earned outrage. And indeed, I could hardly believe my eyes! Even for a hardened and cynic commentator… Have anyone ever seen anything as horrendous? I certainly haven’t!
Not that I expected brilliance – I know all about the culture of incompetence! Once you’ve reached a certain degree of fame and have got some connections, you’ll get the jobs, and people will continue to throw the big money your way, no matter how lousy you perform. The price tag of £400,000 does however in this case seem rather excessive.
So, if they are trying to make it The Queer Games – be my guest!
Some people complain that they see a crushed swastika in this design, but I can’t see that. And after all, in a queer perspective, would a squashed swastika be so bad? They should just have made it more obvious.
Or is it that, from queer design perspective, the politically correct view would be something like “Reclaim the Swastika!” and include a pink swastika in the design? After all, the swastika isn’t a Nazi original, and the Sanskrit word svasti means prosperity, and the symbol is one of “good fortune”!
As for me, the only thing I can see in this logotype is some resemblance to the blown-up double-decker at Tavistock Square… and I guess that is the one London connection.
But does anybody really believe that anything in this city will be ready for the games in 2012? With the appalling lack of organizational skills in the UK, and with the recent precedent of Wembley Stadium in mind, with years of delays and skyrocketing costs – I would put my money on London being ready somewhere around 2017 – at best!
Be prepared for the headline:
LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS POSTPONED!
or possibly:
LONDON OLYMPICS MOVED TO PARIS!
To be prepared, I have designed a politically correct alternative logotype for The London Queer Games. (And I expect a deposit of at least £500,000 to my bank account as a well deserved fee!)
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If the logo is representative of the dreadful closing ceremony with free expression dancers who looked like a bunch of school kids let out to play, we will look a laughing stock. After the precision of the immaculate Chinese presentations, is a London bus and bus stop the best we could come up with even with “celebrities”? For 2012 cut out that 2 hour procession of athletes and just have a parade of flags from each country.