BRISBANE, Australia — A pink cockatoo has been officially unveiled as the emblem of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, beating other Australian wildlife considered for the symbol, including the kangaroo, koala and ibis.
The official launch came Monday, several days after an explainer video featuring the emblem was accidentally posted online ahead of its scheduled unveiling, prompting officials to hold a hastily arranged news conference.
The Olympic emblem features a stylized pink cockatoo, with its design incorporating elements that evoke the Olympic and Paralympic flame as well as the shape of Queensland, the host state.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the emblems were designed to reflect the character and identity of the city.
Schrinner said the designs represent the Brisbane that residents and visitors have come to know, describing the city as vibrant, resilient, connected, friendly, playful and “a little bit cheeky.”
“They reflect the Brisbane (that) people know and love: vibrant, resilient, connected, friendly, playful and a little bit cheeky,” Schrinner said. “They are also a symbol of the excitement building across our city. With just under six years to go, we are already preparing to welcome the world to Australia’s lifestyle capital.”
Organizers said the emblems also incorporate elements associated with First Nations culture. They noted that cockatoos are regarded as messengers carrying cultural significance and connecting people with place, stories and ceremonies.
The emblem is separate from the official Games mascot, which will be introduced at a later date.
The design was inadvertently revealed Friday night when an explainer video intended to be released following a planned ceremonial event briefly appeared on the Brisbane 2032 organizing committee’s YouTube channel. Images and details from the video quickly spread across social media.
Brisbane 2032 Vice President Tim Mander and Chief Marketing Officer Brent Hill addressed the leak during the weekend news conference, describing the unexpected disclosure in positive terms.
Hill said the incident generated significant attention for the Games.
“the publicity has been incredible.”
Before the community launch at South Bank Parklands in central Brisbane on Monday evening, Brisbane 2032 Chairman Andrew Liveris said the emblems would help showcase the distinct identity of the Games and Queensland.
“emblems are an opportunity to promote the unique character of a Games, inviting the world to learn more, visit, invest and be part of an event unlike any other,”
Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who chairs the International Olympic Committee’s coordination commission for Brisbane 2032, described the emblems as a lively representation of the region’s identity.
“vibrant expression”
Although Brisbane will serve as the main hub of the Games, competitions will also be held in other Queensland cities, including the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Australia has previously hosted the Summer Olympics twice, with Melbourne staging the Games in 1956 and Sydney serving as host in 2000.
The Sydney 2000 emblem incorporated imagery associated with the city, including the Sydney Opera House, its harbor and beaches, as well as elements inspired by boomerangs, the sun and rocks.