The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad) and the 2012 Summer Paralympics (officially the XIV Paralympic Games), both commonly referred to as London 2012, were two international multi-sport events that took place from 27 July to 12 August 2012 and 29 August to 12 September 2012, respectively, in London, England, United Kingdom.
2003–2007[]
2003–2004 Applicant City[]
Designer:
Kino Design
Typography:
Unknown
Launched:
17 November 2003
The logo for London's 2012 Olympic application was unveiled at the Roundhouse in North London on 17 November 2003. Created by local agency Kino Design, it showcases a ribbon in the Olympic colours flowing through the words "London 2012" in the shape of the river Thames.
The official logos for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were designed by Wolff Olins at a cost of £400,000, and were unveiled on 4 June 2007.[1] Wolff Olins' basis for the logo was that London was an established economic and social global hub, and did not need to host the Olympic Games for exposure; hence, they did not want to implement London landmarks like the Parliament House or the London Eye in the logo.
Look of the Games
The mark was formed by the year's numerals in an abstract fashion mimicking a humanesque form. The top two numerals acted as containers for the city name and the Olympic rings. The whole emblem was introduced in pink, blue, green and orange, with further variants being added over time under the same framework. This is the first instance where the Olympic and Paralympics Games emblem would share the same shape, although the Paralympic emblem had patterns congruent with the event's brand elements.
London 2012 Logo Launch Video
2007 WARNING This video may potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
Logo at the unveiling press conference with Anthony Murray and LOCOG president Sebastian Coe
London volunteers at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008
10th Anniversary variant 2022
The edgy design broke away from the normal structure of Olympic emblems, and was subject to much scorn amongst the design community and the general public.[2] The logo was particularly controversial in Iran, where the "2012" type was interpreted as the word "Zion", a term for Jerusalem. The LOCOG denied claims of a pro-Israel conspiracy, but Iran threatened a boycott of the games over the issue.[3]
