Brisbane 2032 unveils cockatoo emblem after accidental social media leak
A pink cockatoo has been chosen as the emblem for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, beating out Australian favourites such as the kangaroo, koala and “bin chicken” — but its official unveiling came after an embarrassing accidental leak.
The Brisbane 2032 organising committee formally launched the Olympic and Paralympic emblems on Monday, days after an explainer video featuring the designs was briefly posted online ahead of schedule.
The Olympic emblem features the crest of a pink cockatoo, with the bird's colour stylised to evoke an Olympic and Paralympic flame and its shape reflecting Queensland, the host state.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the emblems were designed to capture the character of the city and its lifestyle.
“They reflect the Brisbane (that) people know and love: vibrant, resilient, connected, friendly, playful and a little bit cheeky,” Schrinner said.
“With just under six years to go, we are already preparing to welcome the world to Australia's lifestyle capital.”
Organisers said the designs also incorporate First Nations elements, noting that cockatoos are regarded as messengers carrying cultural meaning and connecting people to place, story and ceremony.
The emblems are separate from the official Games mascot, which will be unveiled closer to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
The designs had already made their way onto social media before Monday's launch after an explainer video intended to go live following a ceremonial event appeared briefly on the Brisbane 2032 YouTube channel on Friday night.
Screenshots of the video, including images and accompanying text, were quickly circulated online.
At a hastily arranged news conference over the weekend, Brisbane 2032 vice president Tim Mander and chief marketing officer Brent Hill addressed the accidental release.
Rather than treating the leak as a setback, Hill said it had generated considerable attention.
“The publicity has been incredible,” he said.
Brisbane 2032 chairman Andrew Liveris said the emblems would help showcase the character of the Games and encourage people around the world to engage with Queensland.
“The 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,” Liveris said.
Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, who heads the International Olympic Committee's coordination commission for Brisbane 2032, described the emblems as a “vibrant expression” of the region's nature and character.
While Brisbane will be the centre of the Games, competitions will also be held in other parts of Queensland, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Australia has previously hosted the Summer Olympics twice, in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
The Sydney 2000 emblem incorporated references to the city's landmarks and landscape, including the Sydney Opera House, harbour and beaches, along with boomerangs, the sun and rocks.
