Chicago unveils revised Olympics logo
Olympic gold medalists Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Rowdy Gaines unveiled Chicago's second attempt at an Olympic logo for its 2016 Summer Games bid Wednesday --a white, six-point star surrounded by vertical bands of color.
In May, the International Olympic Committee said Chicago couldn't use its first design, a torch whose flame represents the city skyline. The IOC said its rules don't allow logos that contain the Olympic symbol, motto, flag or other imagery including a flame, torch or medal.
The new logo was designed by VSA Partners, the same Chicago agency that designed the first logo, and uses the same palette of yellows, oranges and blues.
"We love this more because this has a more profound message," said Patrick Ryan, head of the city's Olympic organizing committee. The IOC has approved the new design, Ryan said.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said the logo is full of symbols. The central star, based on those in Chicago's flag, represents the city's plan to put athletes at the heart of the competition, Daley said.
"The bands of color radiating up and down from the star reflect both the dynamic architecture of our city and the beautiful character of our parks and lakes, but they also symbolize our desire to reach out to the world and offer many paths to the Games," the mayor said.
Daley said each point of the star stands for an ideal of Chicago and the Olympic Movement: hope, respect, harmony, friendship, excellence and celebration.
Track legend and Illinois native Joyner-Kersee was joined by Gaines, once the world's fastest swimmer, in unveiling the logo at Walt Disney Magnet School, a Chicago public school.
The IOC also has received formal applications from Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; Madrid, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Tokyo.
The committee will choose the host city in October 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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