Brisbane Olympic emblems packed full of symbols to spot
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic emblems have been unveiled six years ahead of Australia’s third ever Games. What special shapes can you spot in the highly symbolic designs?
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Brisbane 2032 has unveiled the emblems* that will represent its Olympic and Paralympic Games, with organisers using familiar Queensland imagery and a staged rollout to introduce the designs.
The emblem was officially unveiled at South Bank in Brisbane on Monday night, with the design illuminated* on a riverside stage.
Revealed in six pieces over the past week, the final emblems centre on two native cockatoos, with the Olympic version based on the pink cockatoo and the Paralympic design built around the sulphur-crested cockatoo.
The Olympic emblem has striking pink strokes as well as the iconic Olympic rings underneath. In contrast, the Paralympic emblem has a vibrant orange colour scheme and the Paralympic symbol of three curving crescents called the Agitos, which is Latin for “I move”.
Organisers have packed in several references, including the outline of Queensland in the birds’ crests, the Olympic and Paralympic flames, and feather groupings that point to 2032.
The launch marks an exciting and visible step in Brisbane’s long lead-up to the Games, which are now less than six years away.
It has also been the first time a Games emblem has been unveiled piece by piece over several days.
Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said the designs were intended to reflect both the host region and the event itself.
“Olympic and Paralympic Games 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,” Mr Liveris said.
“In the case of Brisbane 2032’s emblems, multiple elements have been subtly woven together to encapsulate* the uniqueness of our home and environment and the global appeal and symbol of the Games.”
Organisers said the emblems had been tested locally and overseas before the reveal, and had been received well by the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee.
“Pleasingly, there was overwhelming positivity towards our thinking and I look forward to promoting our emblems far and wide as we continue towards 2032,” Mr Liveris said.
The designs have also drawn support from senior Olympic and Paralympic figures. IOC Coordination Commission chair Mikaela Cojuangco-Jaworski placed the emblem in the wider history of Australia’s Olympic hosts.
“With this emblem, Brisbane and Queensland take their place in a historic line of Olympic identities stretching back over a century, representing Australia on the global stage for the third time, with Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000,” Ms Cojuangco-Jaworski said.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons pointed to the layers built into the artwork.
“What I really love about the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic emblems is that each time you look at them you notice something different, small details that carry special meaning,” Mr Parsons said.
The six-part reveal took place in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, with current and former athletes helping unveil each section.
Organisers have also pointed to First Nations meaning in the designs, noting cockatoos’ connection to Country and their place in story and ceremony.
The emblems are separate from any future mascot, which will be announced closer to the Games.
For now, they become the main visual identity for Brisbane 2032 as planning continues and the countdown to the Games begins.
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GLOSSARY
- emblems: visual pictures that represent an idea, event or organisation
- illuminated: lit up using lighting effects
- encapsulate: expressing the most important facts or meaning in the most direct or concise way
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QUICK QUIZ
What are some of the symbolic images present in the Brisbane Olympic emblems?
Which two native birds are the emblems centred around?
How many times have the Olympics been hosted in Australia so far?
Where did the six-part reveal of the Olympic emblems take place?
When will the mascots for the Games be revealed?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Spot the meaning behind the emblems
After reading the Kids News article, study the emblems and reflect and record the following responses:
- What animals can you see?
- What colours and shapes are used?
- Where can you find Queensland represented?
- Where can you find references to the Olympic/Paralympic flames?
- In what way do the feathers point to 2032?
- What does each element communicate?
- How will international visitors identify the link to QLD, Australia?
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Design and draw your own emblem for your school or class and label what each part represents. Share with your classmates.
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
Creative vocabulary
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any ‘said’ words with more specific synonyms?
Have you outdone yourself and used some really great vocabulary throughout your writing? Firstly, well done. Secondly, let’s ensure everyone can understand it by adding a glossary of terms. Pick three of your wow words and create a glossary for each word to explain what it means.